Antisense intron inhibition of starch branching enzyme expression

ABSTRACT

A method for affecting enzymatic activity in a starch producing organism is described. The method comprises expressing in the organism: (a) a first nucleotide which comprises, partially or completely, a first intron of a gene encoding a class A starch branching enzyme in an antisense orientation, wherein the first nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence naturally associated with the first intron, (b) together with a second nucleotide sequence which comprises, partially or completely, a second intron of a class B starch branching enzyme in an antisense or sense orientation. Also described are antisense sequences, constructs, vectors, transformed cells, and transgenic organisms.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage filing of PCT/IB98/00270, filed on Feb. 23, 1998, under 35 U.S.C. §371.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting gene expression, particularly inhibiting gene expression in a plant. The present invention also relates to a nucleotide sequence useful in the method. In addition, the present invention relates to a promoter that is useful for expressing the nucleotide sequence.

Starch is one of the main storage carbohydrates in plants, especially higher plants. The structure of starch consists of amylose and amylopectin. Amylose consists essentially of straight chains of α-1-4-linked glycosyl residues. Amylopectin comprises chains of α-1-4-linked glycosyl residues with some α-1-6 branches. The branched nature of amylopectin is accomplished by the action of inter alia an enzyme commonly known as the starch branching enzyme (“SBE”). SBE catalyses the formation of branch points in the amylopectin molecule by adding α-1,4 glucans through α-1,6-glucosidic branching linkages. The biosynthesis of amylose and amylopectin is schematically shown in FIG. 1, whereas the α-1-4-links and the α-1-6 links are shown in FIG. 2.

In Potato, it is known that two classes of SBE exist. In our copending international patent applications PCT/EP96/03052 and PCT/EP96/03053, class B potato SBE and a gene encoding it are discussed. In international patent application WO96/34968, class A potato SBE and a cDNA encoding it are disclosed.

It is known that starch is an important raw material. Starch is widely used in the food, paper. and chemical industries. However, a large fraction of the starches used in these industrial applications are post-harvest modified by chemical, physical or enzymatic methods in order to obtain starches with certain required functional properties.

Within the past few years it has become desirable to make genetically modified plants which could be capable of producing modified starches which could be the same as the post-harvest modified starches. It is also known that it may be possible to prepare such genetically modified plants by expression of antisense nucleotide coding sequences. In this regard, June Bourque provides a detailed sunmmary of antisense strategies for the genetic nanipulations in plants (Bourque 1995 Plant Science 105 pp 125-149). At this stage, reference could be made to FIG. 3 which is a schematic diagram of one of the proposed mechanisms of antisense-RNA inhibition.

In particular, WO 92/11375 reports on a method of genetically modifying potato so as to form amylose-type starch. The method involves the use of an anti-sense construct that can apparently inhibit, to a varying extent, the expression of the gene coding for formation of the branching enzyme in potato. The antisense construct of WO 92/11375 consists of a tuber specific promoter, a transcription start sequence and the first exon of the branching. enzyme in antisense direction. However, WO 92/11375 does not provide any antisense sequence data. In addition, WO 92/11375 only discloses the use of the potato GBSS promoter.

WO 92/14827 reports on a plasmid that, after insertion into the genome of a plant, can apparently cause changes in the carbohydrate concentration and carbohydrate composition. such as the concentration and composition of amylose and amylopectin, in the regenerated plant. The plasmid contains part of the coding sequence of a branching enzyme in an antisense orientation.

EP-A-0647715 reports on the use of antisense endogenous mRNA coding DNA to alter the characteristics and the metabolic pathways of ornamental plants.

EP-A-0467349 reports on the expression of sequences that are antisense to sequences upstream of a promoter to control gene expression.

EP-A-0458367 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065 report on the expression of a nucleotide sequence to regulate gene expression in a plant. The nucleotide sequence is complementary to a mRNA sequence of a gene and may cover all or a portion of the noncoding region of the gene. In other words, the nucleotide sequences of EP-A-0458367 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065 must at least comprise a sequence that is complementary to a coding region. EP-A-0458367 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065 contain minimal sequence information.

WO96/34968 discusses the use of antisense sequences complementary to sequences which encode class A and class B potato SBE to downregulate SBE expression in potato plants. The sequences used are complementary to SBE coding sequences.

Kuipers et al in Mol. Gen. Genet. [1995]246 745-755 report on the expression of a series of nucleotides that are antisense to part of the genomic intron sequences of potato granule bound starch synthetase. Here the antisense intron sequences are attached to a part of the antisense exon sequences—wherein the intron sequences and the exon sequences are naturally associated with each other. In addition, the expressed antisense intron sequences are at most 231 bp in length.

Likewise, Kull et al in J. Genet & Breed. [1995] 49 69-76 report on the expression of a series of nucleotides that are antisense to part of the genomic intron sequences of potato granule bound starch synthetase. Likewise, here the antisense intron sequences are attached to a part of the antisense exon sequences—wherein the intron sequences and the exon sequences are naturally associated with each other. In addition, likewise, the expressed antisense intron sequences are at most 231 bp in length.

Shimada et al in Theor. Appl. Genet. [1993]86 665-672 report on the expression of a series of nucleotides that are antisense to part of the genomic intron sequences of rice granule bound starch synthetase. Here the antisense intron sequences are attached to a part of the antisense exon sequences—wherein the intron sequences and the exon sequences are naturally associated with each other. In addition, the expressed antisense intron sequences are less than 350 bp in length.

Reviews on how enzymatic activity can be affected by expression of particular nucleotide sequences may be found in the teachings of Finnegan and McElroy [1994] Biotechnology 12 883-888; and Matzke and Matzke [1995] TIG 11 1-3.

Whilst it is known that enzymatic activity can be affected by expression of particular nucleotide sequences there is still a need for a method that can more reliably and/or more efficiently and/or more specifically affect enzymatic activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of affecting enzymatic activity in a plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) comprising expressing in the plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence partially or completely codes for (is) an intron of the potato class A SBE gene in an antisense orientation optionally together with a nucleotide sequence which codes, partially or completely, for an intron of a class B starch branching enzyme in an antisense or sense orientation; and wherein the nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of affecting enzymatic activity in a starch producing organism (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) comprising expressing in the starch producing organism (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for an intron of the potato class A SBE gene, in an antisense orientation optionally together with a nucleotide sequence which codes, partially or completely, for an intron of a class B starch branching enzyme in an antisense or sense orientation; and wherein starch branching enzyme activity is affected and/or the levels of amylopectin are affected and/or the composition of starch is changed.

Preferably, the class A SBE gene antisense intron construct is used in combination with a potato class B SBE gene antisense intron construct as defined in PCT/EP96/03052. However, it may also be used independently thereof, to target class A SBE alone, or in combination with other transgenes, to further manipulate starch quality in potato plants.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, therefore. there is provided an antisense sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence shown as any one of SEQ.I.D. No. 15 to SEQ.I.D. No. 27 and the complement of SEQ. ID. No.38, or a variant, derivative or homologue thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a promoter comprising the sequence shown as SEQ.I.D. No. 14 or a variant, derivative or homologue thereof.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a construct capable of comprising or expressing the present invention.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a vector comprising or expressing the present invention.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a cell, tissue or organ comprising or expressing the present invention.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a transgenic starch producing organism comprising or expressing the present invention.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a starch obtained from the present invention.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided pSS17 and pSS18.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a nucleotide sequence that is antisense to any one or more of the intron sequences obtainable from class A SBE, and especially those obtainable from intron of class A SBE as set forth in SEQ. ID. No. 38.

A key advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for preparing modified starches that is not dependent on the need for post-harvest modification of starches. Thus the method of the present invention obviates the need for the use of hazardous chemicals that are normally used in the post-harvest modification of starches.

In addition, the present invention provides inter alia genetically modified plants which are capable of producing modified and/or novel and/or improved starches whose properties would satisfy various industrial requirements.

Thus, the present invention provides a method of preparing tailor-made starches in plants which could replace the post-harvest modified starches.

Also, the present invention provides a method that enables modified starches to be prepared by a method that can have a more beneficial effect on the environment than the known post-harvest modification methods which are dependent on the use of hazardous chemicals and large quantities of energy.

An other key advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method that may more reliably and/or more efficiently and/or more specifically affect enzymatic activity when compared to the known methods of affecting enzymatic activity. With regard to this advantage of the present invention it is to be noted that there is some degree of homology between coding regions of SBEs. However, there is little or no homology with the intron sequences of SBEs.

Thus, antisense intron expression provides a mechanism to affect selectively the expression of a particular class A SBE. This advantageous aspect could be used, for example, to reduce or eliminate a particular SBE enzyme, especially a class A SBE enzyme, and replace that enzyme with another enzyme which can be another branching enzyme or even a recombinant version of the affected enzyme or even a hybrid enzyme which could for example comprise part of a SBE enzyme from one source and at least a part of another SBE enzyme from another source. This particular feature of the present invention is covered by the combination aspect of the present invention which is discussed in more detail later.

Thus the present invention provides a mechanism for selectively affecting class A SBE activity. This is in contrast to the prior art methods which are dependent on the use of for example antisense exon expression whereby it would not be possible to introduce new SBE activity without affecting that activity as well.

In the context of the present invention, class B SBE is synonymous with SBE I: class A SBE is synonymous with SBE II. Class A SBE is as defined in WO96/34968, incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, the antisense intron construct used comprises intron 1 of class A SBE, which is 2.0 kb in length and is located starting at residue 45 of the coding sequence of class A SEE. The boundaries of the intron may be calculated by searching for consensus intron boundary sequences. and are shown in attached FIG. 13. Class B SBE is substantially as defined in the sequences given herein and in PCT/EP96/03052.

Preferably with the first aspect of the present invention starch branching enzyme activity is affected and/or the levels of amylopectin are affected and/or the composition of starch is changed.

Preferably with the second aspect of the present invention the nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron.

Preferably with the fourth aspect of the present invention the promoter is in combination with a gene of interest (“GOI”).

Preferably the enzymatic activity is reduced or eliminated.

Preferably the nucleotide sequence codes for at least substantially all of at least one intron in an antisense orientation.

Preferably the nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for two or more introns and wherein each intron is in an anti-sense orientation.

Preferably the nucleotide sequence comprises at least 350 nucleotides (e.g. at least 350 bp), more preferably at least 500 nucleotides (e.g. at least 500 bp).

Preferably the nucleotide sequence comprises the complement of the sequence shown in SEQ. ID. No. 38, or a fragment thereof.

Preferably the nucleotide sequence is expressed by a promoter having a sequence shown as SEQ. I.D. No 14 or a variant, derivative or homologue thereof.

Preferably the transgenic starch producing organism is a plant.

A preferred aspect of the present invention therefore relates to a method of affecting enzymatic activity in a plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) comprising expressing in the plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for an intron in an antisense orientation; wherein the nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron; and wherein starch branching enzyme activity is affected and/or the levels of amylopectin are affected and/or the composition of starch is changed.

A more preferred aspect of the present invention therefore relates to a method of affecting enzymatic activity in a plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) comprising expressing in the plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for an intron in an antisense orientation; wherein the nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron; wherein starch branching enzyme activity is affected and/or the levels of amylopectin are affected and/or the composition of starch is changed; and wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises the sequence shown as any one of SEQ.I.D. No. 15 to SEQ.I.D. No. 27 or a variant, derivative or homologue thereof, including combinations thereof.

The term “nucleotide” in relation to the present invention includes DNA and RNA. Preferably it means DNA, more preferably DNA prepared by use of recombinant DNA techniques.

The term “intron” is used in its normal sense as meaning a segment of nucleotides, usually DNA, that is transcribed but does not encode part or all of an expressed protein or enzyme.

The term “exon” is used in its normal sense as meaning a segment of nucleotides, usually DNA, encoding part or all of an expressed protein or enzyme.

Thus, the term “intron” refers to gene regions that are transcribed into RNA molecules, but which are spliced out of the RNA before the RNA is translated into a protein. In contrast, the term “exon” refers to gene regions that are transcribed into RNA and subsequently translated into proteins.

The terms “variant” or “homologue” or “fragment” in relation to the nucleotide sequence of the present invention include any substitution of, variation of, modification of, replacement of, deletion of or addition of one (or more) nucleic acid from or to the respective nucleotide sequence providing the resultant nucleotide sequence can affect enzyme activity in a plant, or cell or tissue thereof, preferably wherein the resultant nucleotide sequence has at least the same effect as the complement of the sequence shown as SEQ.I.D. No. 38. In particular, the term “homologue” covers homology with respect to similarity of structure and/or similarity of function providing the resultant nucleotide sequence has the ability to affect enzymatic activity in accordance with the present invention. With respect to sequence homology (i.e. similarity), preferably there is more than 80% homology, more preferably at least 85% homology, more preferably at least 90% homology, even more preferably at least 95% homology, more preferably at least 98% homology. The above terms are also synonymous with allelic variations of the sequences.

Likewise, the terms “variant” or “homologue” or “fragment” in relation to the promoter of the present invention include any substitution of, variation of, modification of, replacement of, deletion of or addition of one (or more) nucleic acid from or to the respective promoter sequence providing the resultant promoter sequence allows expression of a GOI, preferably wherein the resultant promoter sequence has at least the same effect as SEQ.I.D. No. 14. In particular, the term “homologue” covers homology with respect to similarity of structure and/or similarity of function providing the resultant promoter sequence has the ability to allow for expression of a GOI, such as a nucleotide sequence according to the present invention. With respect to sequence homology (i.e. similarity), preferably there is more than 80% homology, more preferably at least 85% homology, more preferably at least 90% homology, even more preferably at least 95% homology, more preferably at least 98% homology. The above terms are also synonymous with allelic variations of the sequences.

The term “antisense” means a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to, and can therefore hybridise with, any one or all of the intron sequences of the present invention, including partial sequences thereof.

With the present invention, the antisense intron can be complementary to an entire intron of the gene to be inhibited. However, in some circumstances, partial antisense sequences may be used (i.e. sequences that are not or do not comprise the full complementary sequence) providing the partial sequences affect enzymatic activity. Suitable examples of partial sequences include sequences that are shorter than the full complement of SEQ. ID. No. 38 but which comprise nucleotides that are at least antisense to the sense intron sequences adjacent the respective exon or exons.

With regard to the second aspect of the present invention (i.e. specifically affecting SBE activity), the nucleotide sequences of the present invention may comprise one or more sense or antisense exon sequences of the SBE gene, including complete or partial sequences thereof, providing the nucleotide sequences can affect SBE activity, preferably wherein the nucleotide sequences reduce or eliminate SBE activity. Preferably, the nucleotide sequence of the second aspect of the present invention does not comprise an antisense exon sequence.

The term “vector” includes an expression vector and a transformation vector. The term “expression vector” means a construct capable of in vivo or in vitro expression. The term “transformation vector” means a construct capable of being transferred from one species to another—such as from an E. Coli plasmid to a fungus or a plant cell, or from an Agrobacterium to a plant cell.

The term “construct”—which is synonymous with terms such as “conjugate”, “cassette” and “hybrid”—in relation to the antisense nucleotide sequence aspect of the present invention includes the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention directly or indirectly attached to a promoter. An example of an indirect attachment is the provision of a suitable spacer group such as an intron sequence, such as the Shl-intron or the ADH intron, intermediate the promoter and the nucleotide sequence of the present invention. The same is true for the term “fused” in relation to the present invention which includes direct or indirect attachment. The terms do not cover the natural combination of the wild type SBE gene when associated with the wild type SBE gene promoter in their natural environment.

The construct may even contain or express a marker which allows for the selection of the genetic construct in, for example, a plant cell into which it has been transferred. Various markers exist which may be used in, for example, plants—such as mannose. Other examples of markers include those that provide for antibiotic resistance—e.g. resistance to G418, hygromycin, bleomycin, kanamycin and gentamycin.

The construct of the present invention preferably comprises a promoter. The term “promoter” is used in the normal sense of the art, e.g. an RNA polymerase binding site in the Jacob-Monod theory of gene expression. Examples of suitable promoters are those that can direct efficient expression of the nucleotide sequence of the present invention and/or in a specific type of cell. Some examples of tissue specific promoters are disclosed in WO 92/11375.

The promoter could additionally include conserved regions such as a Pribnow Box or a TATA box. The promoters may even contain other sequences to affect (such as to maintain, enhance, decrease) the levels of expression of the nucleotide sequence of the present invention. Suitable examples of such sequences include the Shl-intron or an ADH intron. Other sequences include inducible elements—such as temperature, chemical, light or stress inducible elements. Also, suitable elements to enhance transcription or translation may be present. An example of the latter element is the TMV 5′ leader sequence (see Sleat Gene 217 [1987] 217-225; and Dawson Plant Mol. Biol. 23 [1993] 97).

As mentioned, the construct and/or the vector of the present invention may include a transcriptional initiation region which may provide for regulated or constitutive expression. Any suitable promoter may be used for the transcriptional initiation region, such as a tissue specific promoter. In one aspect, preferably the promoter is the patatin promoter or the E35S promoter. In another aspect, preferably the promoter is the SBE promoter.

If, for example, the organism is a plant then the promoter can be one that affects expression of the nucleotide sequence in any one or more of seed, tuber, stem, sprout, root and leaf tissues, preferably tuber. By way of example, the promoter for the nucleotide sequence of the present invention can be the α-Amy 1 promoter (otherwise known as the Amy 1 promoter, the Amy 637 promoter or the α-Amy 637 promoter) as described in our co-pending UK patent application No. 9421292.5 filed Oct. 21, 1994. Alternatively, the promoter for the nucleotide sequence of the present invention can be the α-Amy 3 promoter (otherwise known as the Amy 3 promoter, the Amy 351 promoter or the α-Amy 351 promoter) as described in our co-pending UK patent application No. 9421286.7 filed Oct. 21, 1994.

The present invention also encompasses the use of a promoter to express a nucleotide sequence according to the present invention, wherein a part of the promoter is inactivated but wherein the promoter can still function as a promoter. Partial inactivation of a promoter in some instances is advantageous. In particular, with the Amy 351 promoter mentioned earlier it is possible to inactivate a part of it so that the partially inactivated promoter expresses the nucleotide sequence of the present invention in a more specific manner such as in just one specific tissue type or organ. The term “inactivated” means partial inactivation in the sense that the expression pattern of the promoter is modified but wherein the partially inactivated promoter still functions as a promoter. However, as mentioned above, the modified promoter is capable of expressing a gene coding for the enzyme of the present invention in at least one (but not all) specific tissue of the original promoter. Examples of partial inactivation include altering the folding pattern of the promoter sequence, or binding species to parts of the nucleotide sequence, so that a part of the nucleotide sequence is not recognised by, for example, RNA polymerase. Another, and preferable, way of partially inactivating the promoter is to truncate it to form fragments thereof. Another way would be to mutate at least a part of the sequence so that the RNA polymerase can not bind to that part or another part. Another modification is to mutate the binding sites for regulatory proteins for example the CreA protein known from filamentous fungi to exert carbon catabolite repression, and thus abolish the catabolite repression of the native promoter.

The construct and/or the vector of the present invention may include a transcriptional termination region.

The nucleotide according to the present invention can be expressed in combination (but not necessarily at the same time) with an additional construct. Thus the present invention also provides a combination of constructs comprising a first construct comprising the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention operatively linked to a first promoter; and a second construct comprising a GOI operatively linked to a second promoter (which need not be the same as the first promoter). With this aspect of the present invention the combination of constructs may be present in the same vector, plasmid, cells, tissue, organ or organism. This aspect of the present invention also covers methods of expressing the same, preferably in specific cells or tissues, such as expression in just a specific cell or tissue, of an organism, typically a plant. With this aspect of the present invention the second construct does not cover the natural combination of the gene coding for an enzyme ordinarily associated with the wild type gene promoter when they are both in their natural environment.

An example of a suitable combination would be a first construct comprising the nucleotide sequence of the present invention and a promoter, such as the promoter of the present invention, and a second construct comprising a promoter, such as the promoter of the present invention, and a GOI wherein the GOI codes for another starch branching enzyme either in sense or antisense orientation.

The above comments relating to the term “construct” for the antisense nucleotide aspect of the present invention are equally applicable to the term “construct” for the promoter aspect of the present invention. In this regard, the term includes the promoter according to the present invention directly or indirectly attached to a GOI.

The term “GOI” with reference to the promoter aspect of the present invention or the combination aspect of the present invention means any gene of interest, which need not necessarily code for a protein or an enzyme—as is explained later. A GOI can be any nucleotide sequence that is either foreign or natural to the organism in question, for example a plant.

Typical examples of a GOI include genes encoding for other proteins or enzymes that modify metabolic and catabolic processes. The GOI may code for an agent for introducing or increasing pathogen resistance.

The GOI may even be an antisense construct for modifying the expression of natural transcripts present in the relevant tissues. An example of such a GOI is the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention.

The GOI may even code for a protein that is non-natural to the host organism—e.g. a plant. The GOI may code for a compound that is of benefit to animals or humans. For example, the GOI could code for a pharmaceutically active protein or enzyme such as any one of the therapeutic compounds insulin, interferon, human serum albumin, human growth factor and blood clotting factors. The GOI may even code for a protein giving additional nutritional value to a food or feed or crop. Typical examples include plant proteins that can inhibit the formation of anti-nutritive factors and plant proteins that have a more desirable amino acid composition (e.g. a higher lysine content than a non-transgenic plant). The GOI may even code for an enzyme that can be used in food processing such as xylanases and α-galactosidase. The GOI can be a gene encoding for any one of a pest toxin, an antisense transcript such as that for α-amylase, a protease or a glucanase. Alternatively, the GOI can be a nucleotide sequence according to the present invention.

The GOI can be the nucleotide sequence coding for the arabinofuranosidase enzyme which is the subject of our co-pending UK patent application 9505479.7. The GOI can be the nucleotide sequence coding for the glucanase enzyme which is the subject of our co-pending UK patent application 9505475.5. The GOI can be the nucleotide sequence coding for the α-amylase enzyme which is the subject of our co-pending UK patent application 9413439.2. The GOI can be the nucleotide sequence coding for the α-amylase enzyme which is the subject of our co-pending UK patent application 9421290.9. The GOI can be any of the nucleotide sequences coding for the a-glucan lyase enzyme which are described in our co-pending PCT patent application PCT/EP94/03397.

In one aspect the GOI can even be a nucleotide sequence according to the present invention but when operatively linked to a different promoter.

The GOI could include a sequence that codes for one or more of a xylanase, an arabinase, an acetyl esterase, a rhamnogalacturonase, a glucanase, a pectinase, a branching enzyme or another carbohydrate modifying enzyme or proteinase. Alternatively, the GOI may be a sequence that is antisense to any of those sequences.

As mentioned above, the present invention provides a mechanism for selectively affecting a particular enzymatic activity. In an important application of the present invention it is now possible to reduce or eliminate expression of a genomic nucleotide sequence coding for a genomic protein or enzyme by expressing an antisense intron construct for that particular genomic protein or enzyme and (e.g. at the same time) expressing a recombinant version of that enzyme or protein—in other words the GOI is a recombinant nucleotide sequence coding for the genomic enzyme or protein. This application allows expression of desired recombinant enzymes and proteins in the absence of (or reduced levels of) respective genomic enzymes and proteins. Thus the desired recombinant enzymes and proteins can be easily separated and purified from the host organism. This particular aspect of the present invention is very advantageous over the prior art methods which, for example, rely on the use of anti-sense exon expression which methods also affect expression of the recombinant enzyme.

Thus, a further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of expressing a recombinant protein or enzyme in a host organism comprising expressing a nucleotide sequence coding for the recombinant protein or enzyme; and expressing a further nucleotide sequence wherein the further nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for an intron in an antisense orientation; wherein the intron is an intron normally associated with the genomic gene encoding a protein or an enzyme corresponding to the recombinant protein or enzyme; and wherein the further nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron. Additional aspects cover the combination of those nucleotide sequences including their incorporation in constructs, vectors, cells, tissues and transgenic organisms.

Therefore the present invention also relates to a combination of nucleotide sequences comprising a first nucleotide sequence coding for a recombinant enzyme; and a second nucleotide sequence which corresponds to an intron in antisense orientation. wherein the intron is an intron that is associated with a genomic gene encoding an enzyme corresponding to the recombinant enzyme; and wherein the second nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron.

The GOI may even code for one or more introns, such as any one or more of the intron sequences presented in the attached sequence listings. For example, the present invention also covers the expression of for example an antisense intron (e.g. the complement of SEQ. ID. No. 38) in combination with for example a sense intron which preferably is not complementary to the antisense intron sequence (e.g. SEQ.I.D.No. 2 or another class A SBE intron).

The terms “cell”, “tissue” and “organ” include cell, tissue and organ per se and when within an organism.

The term “organism” in relation to the present invention includes any organism that could comprise the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention and/or wherein the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention can be expressed when present in the organism. Preferably the organism is a starch producing organism such as any one of a plant, algae, fungi, yeast and bacteria, as well as cell lines thereof. Preferably the organism is a plant.

The term “starch producing organism” includes any organism that can biosynthesise starch. Preferably, the starch producing organism is a plant.

The term “plant” as used herein includes any suitable angiosperm, gymnosperm, monocotyledon and dicotyledon. Typical examples of suitable plants include vegetables such as potatoes; cereals such as wheat, maize, and barley; fruit; trees; flowers; and other plant crops. Preferably, the term means “potato”.

The term “transgenic organism” in relation to the present invention includes any organism that comprises the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention and/or products obtained therefrom, and/or wherein the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention can be expressed within the organism. Preferably the nucleotide sequence of the present invention is incorporated in the genome of the organism. Preferably the transgenic organism is a plant, more preferably a potato.

To prepare the host organism one can use prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms. Examples of suitable prokaryotic hosts include E. coli and Bacillus subtilis. Teachings on the transformation of prokaryotic hosts is well documented in the art, for example see Sambrook et al (Sambrook et al. in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press).

Even though the enzyme according to the present invention and the nucleotide sequence coding for same are not disclosed in EP-B-0470145 and CA-A-2006454, those two documents do provide some useful background commentary on the types of techniques that may be employed to prepare transgenic plants according to the present invention. Some of these background teachings are now included in the following commentary.

The basic principle in the construction of genetically modified plants is to insert genetic information in the plant genome so as to obtain a stable maintenance of the inserted genetic material.

Several techniques exist for inserting the genetic information. the two main principles being direct introduction of the genetic information and introduction of the genetic information by use of a vector system. A review of the general techniques may be found in articles by Potrykus (Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol [1991]42:205-225) and Christou (Agro-Food-Industry Hi-Tech March/April 1994 17-27).

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention relates to a vector system which carries a nucleotide sequence or construct according to the present invention and which is capable of introducing the nucleotide sequence or construct into the genome of an organism, such as a plant.

The vector system may comprise one vector, but it can comprise two vectors. In the case of two vectors, the vector system is normally referred to as a binary vector system. Binary vector systems are described in further detail in Gynheuna An et al. (1980), Binary Vectors, Plant Molecular Biology Manual A3, 1-19.

One extensively employed system for transformation of plant cells with a given promoter or nucleotide sequence or construct is based on the use of a Ti plasmid from Agrobacterium tumefaciens or a Ri plasmid from Agrobacterium rhizogenes An et al. (1986), Plant Physiol. 81, 301-305 and Butcher D. N. et al. (1980), Tissue Culture Methods for Plant Pathologists, eds.: D. S. Ingrams and J. P. Helgeson, 203-208. Several different Ti and Ri plasmids have been constructed which are suitable for the construction of the plant or plant cell constructs described above. A non-limiting example of such a Ti plasmid is pGV3850.

The nucleotide sequence or construct of the present invention should preferably be inserted into the Ti-plasmid between the terminal sequences of the T-DNA or adjacent a T-DNA sequence so as to avoid disruption of the sequences immediately surrounding the T-DNA borders, as at least one of these regions appears to be essential for insertion of modified T-DNA into the plant genome.

As will be understood from the above explanation, if the organism is a plant the vector system of the present invention is preferably one which contains the sequences necessary to infect the plant (e.g. the vir region) and at least one border part of a T-DNA sequence, the border part being located on the same vector as the genetic construct.

Furthermore, the vector system is preferably an Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti-plasmid or an Agrobacterium rhizogenes Ri-plasmid or a derivative thereof. As these plasmids are well-known and widely employed in the construction of transgenic plants, many vector systems exist which are based on these plasmids or derivatives thereof.

In the construction of a transgenic plant the nucleotide sequence or construct of the present invention may be first constructed in a microorganism in which the vector can replicate and which is easy to manipulate before insertion into the plant. An example of a useful microorganism is E. coli, but other microorganisms having the above properties may be used. When a vector of a vector system as defined above has been constructed in E. coli, it is transferred, if necessary, into a suitable Agrobacterium strain, e.g. Agrobacteriun tumefaciens. The Ti-plasmid harboring the nucleotide sequence or construct of the present invention is thus preferably transferred into a suitable Agrobacterium strain, e.g. A. tumefaciens, so as to obtain an Agrobacterium cell harbouring the promoter or nucleotide sequence or construct of the present invention, which DNA is subsequently transferred into the plant cell to be modified.

If, for example, for the transformation the Ti- or Ri-plasmid of the plant cells is used, at least the right boundary and often however the right and the left boundary of the Ti- and Ri-plasmid T-DNA, as flanking areas of the introduced genes, can be connected. The use of T-DNA for the transformation of plant cells has been intensively studied and is described in EP-A-120516; Hoekema, in: The Binary Plant Vector System Offset-drukkerij Kanters B. B., Alblasserdam, 1985, Chapter V; Fraley, et at., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., 4:1-46: and An et al., EMBO J. (1985) 4:277-284.

Direct infection of plant tissues by Agrobacterium is a simple technique which has been widely employed and which is described in Butcher D. N. et al. (1980), Tissue Culture Methods for Plant Pathologists, eds.: D. S. Ingrams and J. P. Helgeson, 203-208. For further teachings on this topic see Potrykus (Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol [1991] 42:205-225) and Christou (Agro-Food-Industry Hi-Tech March/April 1994 17-27). With this technique, infection of a plant may be performed in or on a certain part or tissue of the plant, i.e. on a part of a leaf, a root, a stem or another part of the plant.

Typically, with direct infection of plant tissues by Agrobacterium carrying the GOI (such as the nucleotide sequence according to the present invention) and, optionally, a promoter, a plant to be infected is wounded, e.g. by cutting the plant with a razor blade or puncturing the plant with a needle or rubbing the plant with an abrasive. The wound is then inoculated with the Agrobacterium. The inoculated plant or plant part is then grown on a suitable culture medium and allowed to develop into mature plants.

When plant cells are constructed, these cells may be grown and maintained in accordance with well-known tissue culturing methods such as by culturing the cells in a suitable culture medium supplied with the necessary growth factors such as amino acids, plant hormones, vitamins, etc.

Regeneration of the transformed cells into genetically modified plants may be accomplished using known methods for the regeneration of plants from cell or tissue cultures, for example by selecting transformed shoots using an antibiotic and by subculturing the shoots on a medium containing the appropriate nutrients, plant hormones, etc.

Further teachings on plant transformation may be found in EP-A-0449375.

As reported in CA-A-2006454, a large amount of cloning vectors are available which contain a replication system in E. coli and a marker which allows a selection of the transformed cells. The vectors contain for example pBR 322, pUC series, M13 mp series, pACYC 184 etc. In this way, the nucleotide or construct of the present invention can be introduced into a suitable restriction position in the vector. The contained plasmid is then used for the transformation in E. coli. The E. coli cells are cultivated in a suitable nutrient medium and then harvested and lysed. The plasmid is then recovered. As a method of analysis there is generally used sequence analysis, restriction analysis, electrophoresis and further biochemical-molecular biological methods. After each manipulation, the used DNA sequence can be restricted and connected with the next DNA sequence. Each sequence can be cloned in the same or different plasmid.

After the introduction of the nucleotide sequence or construct according to the present invention in the plants the presence and/or insertion of further DNA sequences may be necessary—such as to create combination systems as outlined above (e.g. an organism comprising a combination of constructs).

The above commentary for the transformation of prokaryotic organisms and plants with the nucleotide sequence of the present invention is equally applicable for the transformation of those organisms with the promoter of the present invention.

In summation, the present invention relates to affecting enzyme activity by expressing antisense intron sequences.

Also, the present invention relates to a promoter useful for the expression of those antisense intron sequences.

The following samples have been deposited in accordance with the Budapest Treaty at the recognised depositary The National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited (NCIMB) at 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB2 1RY, United Kingdom, on Jul. 13, 1995:

NCIMB 40753 (which refers to pBEA 8 as described herein);

NCIMB 40751 (which refers to λ-SBE 3.2 as described herein), and

NCIMB 40752 (which refers to λ-SBE 3.4 as described herein).

The following sample has been deposited in accordance with the Budapest Treaty at the recognised depositary The National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited (NCIMB) at 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB2 1RY, United Kingdom, on Jul. 9, 1996:

NCIMB 40815 (which refers to pBEA 9 as described herein).

A highly preferred embodiment of the present invention therefore relates to a method of affecting enzymatic activity in a plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) comprising expressing in the plant (or a cell, a tissue or an organ thereof) a nucleotide sequence wherein the nucleotide sequence codes, partially or completely, for an intron in an antisense orientation; wherein the nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence normally associated with the intron; wherein starch branching enzyme activity is affected and/or the levels of amylopectin are affected and/or the composition of starch is changed; and wherein the nucleotide sequence is antisense to intron 1 of class A SBE as set forth in SEQ. ID. No. 38, or any other intron of class A SBE, including fragments thereof, and including combinations of class A antisense intron sequences and class B antisense intron sequences. The sequence of introns of class A SBE other than intron 1 may be obtained by sequencing of, for example, potato class A SBE genomic DNA, isolatable by hybridisation screening of a genomic DNA library with class A SBE cDNA obtainable according to W096/34968 according to methods well known in the art and set forth, for example, in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, 1989.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, which is a schematic representation of the biosynthesis of amylose and amylopectin;

FIG. 2, which is a diagrammatic representation of the alpha-1-4 links and the alpha-1-6 links of amylopectin;

FIG. 3, which is a diagrammatic representation of a possible antisense-RNA inhibition mechanism;

FIG. 4, which is a diagrammatic representation of the exon-intron structure of a genomic SBE clone;

FIG. 5, which is a plasmid map of pPATA1, which is 3936 bp in size;

FIG. 6, which is a plasmid map of pABE6, which is 5106 bp in size;

FIG. 7, which is a plasmid map of pVictorIV Man, which is 7080 bp in size;

FIG. 8, which is a plasmid map of pBEA8, which is 9.54 kb in size;

FIG. 9, which is a plasmid map of pBEA9, which is 9.54 kb in size;

FIG. 10, which is a plasmid map of pBEP2, which is 10.32 kb in size;

FIG. 10, which is a plasmid map of pVictor5a, which is 9.12 kb in size;

FIGS. 12A-12H, which show the full genomic nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NOS: 29 & 41) for SBE including the promoter, exons and introns;

FIG. 13, which shows the positioning of intron 1 in the class A and class B SBE genes (a portion of SEQ ID NO: 41, as well as SEQ ID NOS: 42 & 43);

FIGS. 14A-14E, which show the sequence (SEQ ID NOS: 39 & 40) of intron 1 of the potato class A SBE;

FIG. 15, which shows the structure of pSS17; and

FIG. 16, which shows the structure of pSS18.

FIGS. 1 and 2 were referred to above in the introductory description concerning starch in general. FIG. 3 was referred to above in the introductory description concerning antisense expression.

As mentioned, FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the exon-intron structure of a genomic SBE clone, the sequence of which is shown in FIGS. 12A-12H. This clone, which has about 11.5 k base pairs, comprises 14 exons and 13 introns. The introns are numbered in increasing order from the 5′ end to the 3′ end and correspond to SEQ.I.D.No.s 1-13, respectively. Their respective antisense intron sequences are shown as SEQ.I.D.No.s 15-27.

In more detail, FIGS. 4 and 12A-12H present information on the 11478 base pairs of a potato SBE gene. The 5′ region from nucleotides 1 to 2082 contain the promoter region of the SBE gene. A TATA box candidate at nucleotide 2048 to 2051 is boxed. The homology between a potato SBE cDNA clone (Poulsen & Kreiberg (1993) Plant Physiol 102: 1053-1054) and the exon DNAs begin at 2083 bp and end at 9666 bp.

The homology between the cDNA and the exon DNA is indicated by nucleotides in upper case letters, while the translated amino acid sequences are shown in the single letter code below the exon DNA. Intron sequences are indicated by lower case letters.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are discussed below. As mentioned, FIG. 8 is a plasmid map of pBEA8, which is 9.54 k base pairs in size; and FIG. 9 is a plasmid map of pBEA9, which is 9.54 k base pairs in size. Each of pBEA 8 and pBEA 9 comprises an antisense sequence to the first intron sequence of the potato SBE gene. This first intron sequence, which has 1177 base pairs, is shown in FIG. 4 and lies between the first exon and the second exon.

These experiments and aspects of the present invention are now discussed in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL ISOLATION, SUBCLONING IN PLASMIDS, AND SEQUENCING OF GENOMIC CLASS B SBE CLONES

Various clones containing the potato class B SBE gene are isolated from a Desiree potato genomic library (Clontech Laboratories Inc., Palo Alto Calif., USA) using radioactively labelled potato SBE cDNA (Poulsen & Kreiberg (1993) Plant Physiol. 102:1053-1054) as probe. The fragments of the isolated λ-phages containing SBE DNA (λSBE 3.2—NCIMB 40751— and λSBE-3.4—NCIMB 40752) are identified by Southern analysis and then subcloned into pBluescript II vectors (Clontech Laboratories Inc., Palo Alto Calif., USA). λSBE 3.2 contains a 15 kb potato DNA insert and λSBE-3.4 contains a 13 kb potato DNA insert. The resultant plasmids are called pGB3, pGB11, pGB15, pGB16 and pGB25 (see discussion below). The respective inserts are then sequenced using the Pharmacia Autoread Sequencing Kit (Pharmacia. Uppsala) and a A.L.F. DNA sequencer (Pharmacia, Uppsala).

In total, a stretch of 11.5 kb of the class B SBE gene is sequenced. The sequence is deduced from the above-mentioned plasmids, wherein: pGB25 contains the sequences from 1 bp to 836 bp, pGBI5 contains the sequences from 735 bp to 2580 bp, pGB16 contains the sequences from 2580 bp to 5093 bp, pGB11 contains the sequences from 3348 bp to 7975 bp, and pGB3 contains the sequences from 7533 bp to 11468 bp.

In more detail, pGB3 is constructed by insertion of a 4 kb EcoRI fragment isolated from λSBE 3.2 into the EcoRI site of pBluescript II SK (+). pGB11 is constructed by insertion of a 4.7 kb XhoI fragment isolated from λSBE 3.4 into the XhoI site of pBluescript II SK (+). pGB15 is constructed by insertion of a 1.7 kb Spel fragment isolated from λSBE 3.4 into the SpeI site of pBluescript II SK (+). pGB16 is constructed by insertion of a 2.5 kb SpeI fragment isolated from λSBE 3.4 into the SpeI site of pBluescript II SK (+). For the construction of pGB25 a PCR fragment is produced with the primers

5′ GGA ATT CCA GTC GCA GTC TAC ATT AC 3′ (SEQ. ID. No.30)

and

5′ CGG GAT CCA GAG GCA TTA AGA TTT CTG G 3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 31)

and λSBE 3.4 as a template.

The PCR fragment is digested with BamHI and EcoRI, and inserted in pBluescript II SK (+) digested with the same restriction enzymes.

A class A SBE clone is derived similarly.

CONSTRUCTION OF CLASS B SBE ANTISENSE INTRON PLASMIDS pBEA8 AND pBEA9

The SBE intron 1 is amplified by PCR using the oligonucleotides:

5′ CGG GAT CCA AAG AAA TTC TCG AGG TTA CAT GG 3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 32)

and

5′ CGG GAT CCG GGG TAA TTT TTA CTA ATT TCA TG 3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 33)

and the λSBE 3.4 phage containing the SBE gene as template.

The PCR product is digested with BamHI and inserted in an antisense orientation in the BamHI site of plasmid pPATA1 (described in WO 94/24292) between the patatin promoter and the 35S terminator. This construction, pABE6, is digested with KpnI, and the 2.4 kb “patatin promoter-SBE intron 1-35S terminator” KpnI fragment is isolated and inserted in the KpnI site of the plant transformation vector pVictorIV Man. The KpnI fragment is inserted in two orientations yielding plasmids pBEA8 and pBEA9. pVictorIV Man is shown in FIG. 7 and is formed by insertion of a filled in XbaI fragment containing a E35S promoter-manA-35S terminator cassette isolated from plasmid pVictorIV SGiN Man (WO 94/24292) into the filled in XhoI site of pVictor IV. The pVictor regions of pvictor IV Man contained between the co-ordinates 2.52 bp to 0.32 bp (see FIG. 7).

CONSTRUCTION OF CLASS A SBE ANTISENSE INTRON PLASMIDS pSS17 AND pSS18 Construction of Plasmid pSS17.

The 2122 bp intron 1 sequence of the potato SBEII gene is amplified by PCR from a genomic SBEII subclone using the primers 5′-CGG GAT CCC GTA TGT CTC ACT GTG TTT GTG GC-3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 34) and 5′-CGG GAT CCC CCT ACA TAC ATA TAT CAG ATT AG-3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 35). The PCR product is digested with BamHI and inserted in antisense orientation after a patatin promoter in the BamHI site of a plant transformation vector in which the NPTII gene is used as selectable marker (see FIG. 15).

Construction of Plasmid pSS18.

The 2122 bp intron 1 sequence of the potato SBEII gene is amplified by PCR from a genomic SBEII subclone using the primers 5′-CGG GAT CCC GTA TGT CTC ACT GTG TTT GTG GC-3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 34) and 5′-CGG GAT CCC CCT ACA TAC ATA TAT CAG ATT AG-3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 35). The PCR product is digested with BanmHI and inserted in antisense orientation after a patatin promoter in the BamnHI site of a plant transformation vector in which the manA gene is used as selectable marker (see FIG. 16).

PRODUCTION OF TRANSGENIC POTATO PLANTS

Axenic Stock Cultures

Shoot cultures of Solanum tuberosum ‘Bintje’ and ‘Dianella’ are maintained on a substrate (LS) of a formula according to Linsmaier, E. U. and Skoog, F. (1965), Physiol. Plant. 18: 100-127, in addition containing 2 μM silver thiosulphate at 25° C. and 16 h light/8 h dark.

The cultures are subcultured after approximately 40 days. Leaves are then cut off the shoots and cut into nodal segments (approximately 0.8 cm) each containing one node.

Inoculation of Potato Tissues

Shoots from approximately 40 days old shoot cultures (height approximately 5-6 cms) are cut into internodal segments (approximately 0.8 cm). The segments are placed into liquid LS-substrate containing the transformed Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the binary vector of interest. The Agrobacterium are grown overnight in YMB-substrate (di-potassium hydrogen phosphate, trihydrate (0.66 g/l); magnesium sulphate, heptahydrate (0.20 g/l); sodium chloride (0.10 g/l); mannitol (10.0 g/l); and yeast extract (0.40 g/l)) containing appropriate antibiotics (corresponding to the resistance gene of the Agrobacterium strain) to an optical density at 660 nm (OD-660) of approximately 0.8, centrifuged and resuspended in the LS-substrate to an OD-660 of 0.5.

The segments are left in the suspension of Agrobacterinim for 30 minutes and then the excess of bacteria are removed by blotting the segments on sterile filter paper.

Co-cultivation

The shoot segments are co-cultured with bacteria for 48 hours directly on LS-substrate containing agar (8.0 g/l), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.0 mg/I) and transzeatin (0.5 mg/l). The substrate and also the explants are covered with sterile filter papers, and the petri dishes are placed at 25° C. and 16 h light/8 dark.

“Washing” Procedure

After the 48 h on the co-cultivation substrate the segments are transferred to containers containing liquid LS-substrate containing 800 mg/l carbenicillin. The containers are gently shaken and by this procedure the major part of the Agrobacterium is either washed off the segments and/or killed.

Selection

After the washing procedure the segments are transferred to plates containing the LS-substrate, agar (8 g/l), trans-zeatin (1-5 mg/l), gibberellic acid (0.1 mg/l), carbenicillin (800 mg/l), and kanamycin sulphate (50-100 mg/l) or phosphinotricin (1-5 mg/l) or mannose (5 g/l) depending on the vector construction used. The segments are sub-cultured to fresh substrate each 3-4 weeks.

In 3 to 4 weeks, shoots develop from the segments and the formation of new shoots continued for 3-4 months.

Rooting of Regenerated Shoots

The regenerated shoots are transferred to rooting substrate composed of LS-substrate, agar (8 g/l) and carbenicillin (800 mg/l).

The transgenic genotype of the regenerated shoot is verified by testing the rooting ability on the above mentioned substrates containing kanamycin sulphate (200 mg/l), by performing NPTII assays (Radke, S. E. et al, Theor. Appl. Genet. (1988), 75: 685-694) or by performing PCR analysis according to Wang et al (1993, NAR 21 pp 4153-4154). Plants which are not positive in any of these assays are discarded or used as controls. Alternatively, the transgenic plants could be verified by performing a GUS assay on the co-introduced β-glucuronidase gene according to Hodal, L. et al. (Pl. Sci. (1992), 87: 115-122).

Transfer to Soil

The newly rooted plants (height approx. 2-3 cms) are transplanted from rooting substrate to soil and placed in a growth chamber (21° C., 16 hour light 200-400 uE/m²/sec). When the plants are well established they are transferred to the greenhouse, where they are grown until tubers had developed and the upper part of the plants are senescing.

Harvesting

The potatoes are harvested after about 3 months and then analysed.

BRANCHING ENZYME ANALYSIS

The class A and class B SBE expression in the transgenic potato lines is measured using the SBE assays described by Blennow and Johansson (Phytochemistry (1991) 30:437-444) and by standard Western procedures using antibodies directed against potato SBE.

STARCH ANALYSIS

Starch is isolated from potato tubers and analysed for the amylose:amylopectin ratio (Hovenkamp-Hermelink et al. (1988) Potato Research 31:241-246). In addition, the chain length distribution of amylopectin is determined by analysis of isoamylase digested starch on a Dionex HPAEC.

The number of reducing ends in isoamylase digested starch is determined by the method described by N. Nelson (1944) J. Biol.Chem. 153:375-380.

The results reveal that there is a reduction in the level of synthesis of SBE and/or the level of activity of SBE and/or the composition of starch SBE in the transgenic plants.

CONSTRUCTION OF SBE PROMOTER CONSTRUCT

An SBE promoter fragment is amplified from λ-SBE 3.4 using primers:

5′ CCA TCG ATA CTT TAA GTG ATT TGA TGG C 3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 36)

and

5′ CGG GAT CCT GTT CTG ATT CTT GAT TTC C 3′ (SEQ. ID. No. 37)

The PCR product is digested with Cla/I and BamHI. The resultant 1.2 kb fragment is then inserted in pVictor5a (see FIG. 11) linearised with ClaI and BglII yielding pBEP2 (see FIG. 10).

STARCH BRANCHING ENZYME MEASUREMENTS OF POTATO TUBERS

Potatoes from potato plants transformed with pBEA8, pBEA9, pSS17 or pSS18 are cut in small pieces and homogenised in extraction buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, Sodium-dithionite (0.1 g/l), and 2 mM DTT) using a Ultra-Turax homogenizer; 1 g of Dowex xl. is added pr. 10 g of tuber. The crude homogenate is filtered through a miracloth filter and centrifuged at 4° C. for 10 minutes at 24.700 g. The supernatant is used for starch branching enzyme assays.

The starch branching enzyme assays are carried out at 25° C. in a volume of 400 μl composed of 0.1 M Na citrate buffer pH 7.0, 0.75 mg/ml amylose, 5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin and the potato extract. At 0, 15, 30 and 60 minutes aliqouts of 50 μl are removed from the reaction into 20 μl 3 N HCl. 1 ml of iodine solution is added and the decrease in absorbance at 620 nm is measured with an ELISA spectrophotometer.

The starch branching enzyme (SBE) levels are measured in tuber extracts from 34 transgenic Dianella potato plants transformed with plasmid pBEA8, pSS17 and pSS18.

The transformed transgenic lines produce tubers which have SBE levels that are 10% to 15% of the appropriate class A or class B SBE levels found in non transformed Dianella plants.

In a further experiment, plasmids pSS17 and pBEA8 are cotransfected into potato plants, as described above. In the cotransfectants, when analysed as set forth above, simultaneous reduction of class A and class B SBE levels are observed.

SUMMATION

The above-mentioned examples relate to the isolation, sequencing and utilisation of antisense intron constructs derived from a gene for potato class A and class B SBE. These SBE intron antisense constructs can be introduced into plants, such as potato plants. After introduction, a reduction in the level of synthesis of SBE and/or the level of activity of SBE and/or the composition of starch in plants can be achieved.

Without wishing to be bound by theory it is believed that the expressed anti-sense nucleotide sequence of the present invention binds to sense introns on pre-mRNA and thereby prevents pre-mRNA splicing and/or subsequent translation of mRNA. This binding therefore is believed to reduce the level of plant enzyme activity (in particular class A and class B SBE activity), which in turn for SBE activity is believed to influence the amylose:amylopectin ratio and thus the branching pattern of amylopectin.

Thus, the present invention provides a method wherein it is possible to manipulate the starch composition in plants, or tissues or cells thereof, such as potato tubers, by reducing the level of SBE activity by using an antisense-RNA technique using antisense intron sequences.

The simultaneous reduction or elimination of class A and class B SBE sequences from the doubly transformed potato plants, moreover, offers the possibility to transform such plants with different SBE genes at will, thus allowing the manipulation of branching in starch according to the desired result.

Other modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The following pages present a number of sequence listings which have been consecutively numbered from SEQ.I.D. No. 1-SEQ.I.D. No. 38. In brief, SEQ.I.D. No. 1-SEQ.I.D. No. 13 represent sense intron sequences (genomic DNA); SEQ.I.D. No. 14 represents the SBE promoter sequence (genomic sequence); SEQ.I.D. No. 15-SEQ.I.D. No. 27 represent antisense intron sequences; and SEQ. I.D. No. 28 represents is the sequence complementary to the SBE promoter sequence—i.e. the SBE promoter sequence in antisense orientation. The full genomic nucleotide sequence for class B SBE including the promoter, exons and introns is shown as SEQ. I.D. No. 29 and is explained by way of FIGS. 4 and 12A-12H which highlight particular gene features. SEQ. ID. No. 30 to 37 show primers used in the methods set forth above. SEQ. ID. No. 38 shows the sequence of intron 1 of class A SBE.

SEQUENCE LISTING <160> NUMBER OF SEQ ID NOS: 43 <210> SEQ ID NO 1 <211> LENGTH: 1165 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 1 gtaattttta ctaatttcat gttaatttca attattttta gcctttgcat ttcattttcc 60 aatatatctg gatcatctcc ttagtttttt attttatttt ttataatatc aaatatggaa 120 gaaaaatgac acttgtagag ccatatgtaa gtatcatgtg acaaatttgc aaggtggttg 180 agtgtataaa attcaaaaat tgagagatgg agggggggtg ggggaagaca atatttagaa 240 agagtgttct aggaggttat ggaggacacg gatgaggggt agaaggttag ttaggtattt 300 gagtgttgtc tggcttatcc tttcatacta gtagtcgtgg aattatttgg gtagtttctt 360 gttttgttat ttgatctttg ttattctatt ttctgtttct tgtacttcga ttattgtatt 420 atatatcttg tcgtagttat tgttcctcgg taagaatgct ctagcatgct tcctttagtg 480 ttttatcatg ccttctttat attcgcgttg ctttgaaatg cttttacttt agccgagggt 540 ctattagaaa caatctctct atctcgtaag gtaggggtaa agtcctcacc acactccact 600 tgtgggatta cattgtgttt gttgttgtaa atcaattatg tatacataat aagtggattt 660 tttacaacac aaatacatgg tcaagggcaa agttctgaac acataaaggg ttcattatat 720 gtccagggat atgataaaaa ttgtttcttt gtgaaagtta tataagattt gttatggctt 780 ttgctggaaa cataataagt tataatgctg agatagctac tgaagtttgt tttttctagc 840 cttttaaatg taccaataat agattccgta tcgaacgagt atgttttgat tacctggtca 900 tgatgtttct attttttaca tttttttggt gttgaactgc aattgaaaat gttgtatcct 960 atgagacgga tagttgagaa tgtgttcttt gtatggacct tgagaagctc aaacgctact 1020 ccaataattt ctatgaattc aaattcagtt tatggctacc agtcagtcca gaaattagga 1080 tatgctgcat atacttgttc aattatactg taaaatttct taagttctca agatatccat 1140 gtaacctcga gaatttcttt gacag 1165 <210> SEQ ID NO 2 <211> LENGTH: 317 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 2 gtatgtttga taatttatat ggttgcatgg atagtatata aatagttgga aaacttctgg 60 actggtgctc atggcatatt tgatctgtgc accgtgtgga gatgtcaaac atgtgttact 120 tcgttccgcc aatttataat accttaactt gggaaagaca gctctttact cctgtgggca 180 tttgttattt gaattacaat ctttatgagc atggtgtttt cacattatca acttctttca 240 tgtggtatat aacagttttt agctccgtta atacctttct tctttttgat ataaactaac 300 tgtggtgcat tgcttgc 317 <210> SEQ ID NO 3 <211> LENGTH: 504 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 3 gtaacagcca aaagttgtgc tttaggcagt ttgaccttat tttggaagat gaattgttta 60 tacctacttt gactttgcta gagaattttg cataccgggg agtaagtagt ggctccattt 120 aggtggcacc tggccatttt tttgatcttt taaaaagctg tttgattggg tcttcaaaaa 180 agtagacaag gtttttggag aagtgacaca cccccggagt gtcagtggca aagcaaagat 240 tttcactaag gagattcaaa atataaaaaa agtatagaca taaagaagct gaggggattc 300 aacatgtact atacaagcat caaatatagt cttaaagcaa ttttgtagaa ataaagaaag 360 tcttccttct gttgcttcac aatttccttc tattatcatg agttactctt tctgttcgaa 420 atagcttcct taatattaaa ttcatgatac ttttgttgag atttagcagt tttttcttgt 480 gtaaactgct ctcttttttt gcag 504 <210> SEQ ID NO 4 <211> LENGTH: 146 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 4 gtaggtcctc gtctactaca aaatagtagt ttccatcatc ataacagatt ttcctattaa 60 agcatgatgt tgcagcatca ttggctttct tacatgttct aattgctatt aaggttatgc 120 ttctaattaa ctcatccaca atgcag 146 <210> SEQ ID NO 5 <211> LENGTH: 218 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 5 gttttgttat tcataccttg aagctgaatt ttgaacacca tcatcacagg catttcgatt 60 catgttctta ctagtcttgt tatgtaagac attttgaaat gcaaaagtta aaataattgt 120 gtctttacta atttggactt gatcccatac tctttccctt aacaaaatga gtcaattcta 180 taagtgcttg agaacttact acttcagcaa ttaaacag 218 <210> SEQ ID NO 6 <211> LENGTH: 198 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 6 gtattttaaa tttatttcta caactaaata attctcagaa caattgttag atagaatcca 60 aatatatacg tcctgaaagt ataaaagtac ttattttcgc catgggcctt cagaatattg 120 gtagccgctg aatatcatga taagttattt atccagtgac atttttatgt tcactcctat 180 tatgtctgct ggatacag 198 <210> SEQ ID NO 7 <211> LENGTH: 208 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 7 gtttgtctgt ttctattgca ttttaaggtt catataggtt agccacggaa aatctcactc 60 tttgtgaggt aaccagggtt ctgatggatt attcaatttt ctcgtttatc atttgtttat 120 tcttttcatg cattgtgttt ctttttcaat atccctctta tttggaggta atttttctca 180 tctattcact tttagcttct aaccacag 208 <210> SEQ ID NO 8 <211> LENGTH: 293 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 8 gtatgtctta catctttaga tattttgtga taattacaat tagtttggct tacttgaaca 60 agattcattc ctcaaaatga cctgaactgt tgaacatcaa aggggttgaa acatagagga 120 aaacaacatg atgaatgttt ccattgtcta gggatttcta ttatgttgct gagaacaaat 180 gtcatcttaa aaaaaacatt gtttactttt ttgtagtata gaagattact gtatagagtt 240 tgcaagtgtg tctgttttgg agtaattgtg aaatgtttga tgaacttgta cag 293 <210> SEQ ID NO 9 <211> LENGTH: 376 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 9 gttcaagtat tttgaatcgc agcttgttaa ataatctagt aatttttaga ttgcttactt 60 ggaagtctac ttggttctgg ggatgatagc tcatttcatc ttgttctact tattttccaa 120 ccgaatttct gatttttgtt tcgagatcca agtattagat tcatttacac ttattaccgc 180 ctcatttcta ccactaaggc cttgatgagc agcttaagtt gattctttga agctatagtt 240 tcaggctacc aatccacagc ctgctatatt tgttggatac ttaccttttc tttacaatga 300 agtgatacta attgaaatgg tctaaatctg atatctatat ttctccgtct ttcctccccc 360 tcatgatgaa atgcag 376 <210> SEQ ID NO 10 <211> LENGTH: 172 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 10 gtaaaatcat ctaaagttga aagtgttggg tttatgaagt gctttaattc tatccaagga 60 caagtagaaa cctttttacc ttccatttct tgatgatgga tttcatatta tttaatccaa 120 tagctggtca aattcggtaa tagctgtact gattagttac ttcactttgc ag 172 <210> SEQ ID NO 11 <211> LENGTH: 145 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 11 gtatatatgt tttacttatc catgaaatta ttgctctgct tgtttttaat gtactgaaca 60 agttttatgg agaagtaact gaaacaaatc attttcacat tgtctaattt aactcttttt 120 tctgatcctc gcatgacgaa aacag 145 <210> SEQ ID NO 12 <211> LENGTH: 242 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 12 gtaaggattt gcttgaataa cttttgataa taagataaca gatgtagggt acagttctct 60 caccaaaaag aactgtaatt gtctcatcca tctttagttg tataagatat ccgactgtct 120 gagttcggaa gtgtttgagc ctcctgccct ccccctgcgt tgtttagcta attcaaaaag 180 gagaaaactg tttattgatg atctttgtct tcatgctgac atacaatctg ttctcatgac 240 ag 242 <210> SEQ ID NO 13 <211> LENGTH: 797 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 13 gtacagttct tgccgtgtga cctccctttt tattgtggtt ttgttcatag ttatttgaat 60 gcgatagaag ttaactattg attaccgcca caatcgccag ttaagtcctc tgaactacta 120 atttgaaagg taggaatagc cgtaataagg tctacttttg gcatcttact gttacaaaac 180 aaaaggatgc caaaaaaatt cttctctatc ctctttttcc ctaaaccagt gcatgtagct 240 tgcacctgca taaacttagg taaatgatca aaaatgaagt tgatgggaac ttaaaaccgc 300 cctgaagtaa agctaggaat agtcatataa tgtccacctt tggtgtctgc gctaacatca 360 acaacaacat acctcgtgta gtcccacaaa gtggtttcag ggggagggta gagtgtatgc 420 aaaacttact cctatctcag aggtagagag gattttttca atagaccctt ggctcaagaa 480 aaaaagtcca aaaagaagta acagaagtga aagcaacatg tgtagctaaa gcgacccaac 540 ttgtttggga ctgaagtagt tgttgttgtt gaaacagtgc atgtagatga acacatgtca 600 gaaaatggac aacacagtta ttttgtgcaa gtcaaaaaaa tgtactacta tttctttgtg 660 cagctttatg tatagaaaag ttaaataact aatgaatttt gctagcagaa aaatagcttg 720 gagagaaatt ttttatattg aactaagcta actatattca tctttctttt tgcttcttct 780 tctccttgtt tgtgaag 797 <210> SEQ ID NO 14 <211> LENGTH: 2169 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 14 atcatggcca attactggtt caaatgcatt acttcctttc agattctttc gagttctcat 60 gaccggtcct actacagacg atactaaccc gtggaactgt tgcatctgct tcttagaact 120 ctatggctat tttcgttagc ttggcgtcgg tttgaacata gtttttgttt tcaaactctt 180 catttacagt caaaatgttg tatggttttt gttttcctca atgatgttta cagtgttgtg 240 ttgtcatctg tacttttgcc tattacttgt tttgagttac atgttaaaaa agtgtttatt 300 ttgccatatt ttgttctctt attattatta tcatacatac attattacaa ggaaaagaca 360 agtacacaga tcttaacgtt tatgttcaat caacttttgg aggcattgac aggtaccaca 420 aattttgagt ttatgattaa gttcaatctt agaatatgaa tttaacatct attatagatg 480 cataaaaata gctaatgata gaacattgac atttggcaga gcttagggta tggtatatcc 540 aacgttaatt tagtaatttt tgttacgtac gtatatgaaa tattgaatta atcacatgaa 600 cggtggatat tatattatga gttggcatca gcaaaatcat tggtgtagtt gactgtagtt 660 gcagatttaa taataaaatg gtaattaacg gtcgatatta aaataactct catttcaagt 720 gggattagaa ctagttatta aaaaaatgta tactttaagt gatttgatgg catataattt 780 aaagtttttc atttcatgct aaaattgtta attattgtaa tgtagactgc gactggaatt 840 attatagtgt aaatttatgc attcagtgta aaattaaagt attgaacttg tctgttttag 900 aaaatacttt atactttaat ataggatttt gtcatgcgaa tttaaattaa tcgatattga 960 acacggaata ccaaaattaa aaaggataca catggccttc atatgaaccg tgaacctttg 1020 ataacgtgga agttcaaaga aggtaaagtt taagaataaa ctgacaaatt aatttctttt 1080 atttggccca ctactaaatt tgctttactt tctaacatgt caagttgtgc cctcttagtt 1140 gaatgatatt catttttcat cccataagtt caatttgatt gtcataccac ccatgatgtt 1200 ctgaaaaatg cttggccatt cacaaagttt atcttagttc ctatgaactt tataagaagc 1260 tttaatttga catgttattt atattagatg atataatcca tgacccaata gacaagtgta 1320 ttaatattgt aactttgtaa ttgagtgtgt ctacatctta ttcaatcatt taaggtcatt 1380 aaaataaatt attttttgac attctaaaac tttaagcaga ataaatagtt tatcaattat 1440 taaaaacaaa aaacgactta tttataaatc aacaaacaat tttagattgc tccaacatat 1500 ttttccaaat taaatgcaga aaatgcataa ttttatactt gatctttata gcttattttt 1560 tttagcctaa ccaacgaata tttgtaaact cacaacttga ttaaaaggga tttacaacaa 1620 gatatatata agtagtgaca aatcttgatt ttaaatattt taatttggag gtcaaaattt 1680 taccataatc atttgtattt ataattaaat tttaaatatc ttatttatac atatctagta 1740 aacttttaaa tatacgtata tacaaaatat aaaattattg gcgttcatat taggtcaata 1800 aatccttaac tatatctgcc ttaccactag gagaaagtaa aaaactcttt accaaaaata 1860 catgtattat gtatacaaaa agtcgattag attacctaaa tagaaattgt ataacgagta 1920 agtaagtaga aatataaaaa aactacaata ctaaaaaaaa tatgttttac ttcaatttcg 1980 aaactaatgg ggtctgagtg aaatattcag aaaggggagg actaacaaaa gggtcataat 2040 gtttttttat aaaaagccac taaaatgagg aaatcaagaa tcagaacata caagaaggca 2100 gcagctgaag caaagtacca taatttaatc aatggaaatt aatttcaaag ttttatcaaa 2160 acccattcg 2169 <210> SEQ ID NO 15 <211> LENGTH: 1165 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 15 ctgtcaaaga aattctcgag gttacatgga tatcttgaga acttaagaaa ttttacagta 60 taattgaaca agtatatgca gcatatccta atttctggac tgactggtag ccataaactg 120 aatttgaatt catagaaatt attggagtag cgtttgagct tctcaaggtc catacaaaga 180 acacattctc aactatccgt ctcataggat acaacatttt caattgcagt tcaacaccaa 240 aaaaatgtaa aaaatagaaa catcatgacc aggtaatcaa aacatactcg ttcgatacgg 300 aatctattat tggtacattt aaaaggctag aaaaaacaaa cttcagtagc tatctcagca 360 ttataactta ttatgtttcc agcaaaagcc ataacaaatc ttatataact ttcacaaaga 420 aacaattttt atcatatccc tggacatata atgaaccctt tatgtgttca gaactttgcc 480 cttgaccatg tatttgtgtt gtaaaaaatc cacttattat gtatacataa ttgatttaca 540 acaacaaaca caatgtaatc ccacaagtgg agtgtggtga ggactttacc cctaccttac 600 gagatagaga gattgtttct aatagaccct cggctaaagt aaaagcattt caaagcaacg 660 cgaatataaa gaaggcatga taaaacacta aaggaagcat gctagagcat tcttaccgag 720 gaacaataac tacgacaaga tatataatac aataatcgaa gtacaagaaa cagaaaatag 780 aataacaaag atcaaataac aaaacaagaa actacccaaa taattccacg actactagta 840 tgaaaggata agccagacaa cactcaaata cctaactaac cttctacccc tcatccgtgt 900 cctccataac ctcctagaac actctttcta aatattgtct tcccccaccc cccctccatc 960 tctcaatttt tgaattttat acactcaacc accttgcaaa tttgtcacat gatacttaca 1020 tatggctcta caagtgtcat ttttcttcca tatttgatat tataaaaaat aaaataaaaa 1080 actaaggaga tgatccagat atattggaaa atgaaatgca aaggctaaaa ataattgaaa 1140 ttaacatgaa attagtaaaa attac 1165 <210> SEQ ID NO 16 <211> LENGTH: 317 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 16 gcaagcaatg caccacagtt agtttatatc aaaaagaaga aaggtattaa cggagctaaa 60 aactgttata taccacatga aagaagttga taatgtgaaa acaccatgct cataaagatt 120 gtaattcaaa taacaaatgc ccacaggagt aaagagctgt ctttcccaag ttaaggtatt 180 ataaattggc ggaacgaagt aacacatgtt tgacatctcc acacggtgca cagatcaaat 240 atgccatgag caccagtcca gaagttttcc aactatttat atactatcca tgcaaccata 300 taaattatca aacatac 317 <210> SEQ ID NO 17 <211> LENGTH: 504 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 17 ctgcaaaaaa agagagcagt ttacacaaga aaaaactgct aaatctcaac aaaagtatca 60 tgaatttaat attaaggaag ctatttcgaa cagaaagagt aactcatgat aatagaagga 120 aattgtgaag caacagaagg aagactttct ttatttctac aaaattgctt taagactata 180 tttgatgctt gtatagtaca tgttgaatcc cctcagcttc tttatgtcta tacttttttt 240 atattttgaa tctccttagt gaaaatcttt gctttgccac tgacactccg ggggtgtgtc 300 acttctccaa aaaccttgtc tacttttttg aagacccaat caaacagctt tttaaaagat 360 caaaaaaatg gccaggtgcc acctaaatgg agccactact tactccccgg tatgcaaaat 420 tctctagcaa agtcaaagta ggtataaaca attcatcttc caaaataagg tcaaactgcc 480 taaagcacaa cttttggctg ttac 504 <210> SEQ ID NO 18 <211> LENGTH: 146 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 18 ctgcattgtg gatgagttaa ttagaagcat aaccttaata gcaattagaa catgtaagaa 60 agccaatgat gctgcaacat catgctttaa taggaaaatc tgttatgatg atggaaacta 120 ctattttgta gtagacgagg acctac 146 <210> SEQ ID NO 19 <211> LENGTH: 218 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 19 ctgtttaatt gctgaagtag taagttctca agcacttata gaattgactc attttgttaa 60 gggaaagagt atgggatcaa gtccaaatta gtaaagacac aattatttta acttttgcat 120 ttcaaaatgt cttacataac aagactagta agaacatgaa tcgaaatgcc tgtgatgatg 180 gtgttcaaaa ttcagcttca aggtatgaat aacaaaac 218 <210> SEQ ID NO 20 <211> LENGTH: 198 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 20 ctgtatccag cagacataat aggagtgaac ataaaaatgt cactggataa ataacttatc 60 atgatattca gcggctacca atattctgaa ggcccatggc gaaaataagt acttttatac 120 tttcaggacg tatatatttg gattctatct aacaattgtt ctgagaatta tttagttgta 180 gaaataaatt taaaatac 198 <210> SEQ ID NO 21 <211> LENGTH: 208 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 21 ctgtggttag aagctaaaag tgaatagatg agaaaaatta cctccaaata agagggatat 60 tgaaaaagaa acacaatgca tgaaaagaat aaacaaatga taaacgagaa aattgaataa 120 tccatcagaa ccctggttac ctcacaaaga gtgagatttt ccgtggctaa cctatatgaa 180 ccttaaaatg caatagaaac agacaaac 208 <210> SEQ ID NO 22 <211> LENGTH: 293 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 22 ctgtacaagt tcatcaaaca tttcacaatt actccaaaac agacacactt gcaaactcta 60 tacagtaatc ttctatacta caaaaaagta aacaatgttt tttttaagat gacatttgtt 120 ctcagcaaca taatagaaat ccctagacaa tggaaacatt catcatgttg ttttcctcta 180 tgtttcaacc cctttgatgt tcaacagttc aggtcatttt gaggaatgaa tcttgttcaa 240 gtaagccaaa ctaattgtaa ttatcacaaa atatctaaag atgtaagaca tac 293 <210> SEQ ID NO 23 <211> LENGTH: 376 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 23 ctgcatttca tcatgagggg gaggaaagac ggagaaatat agatatcaga tttagaccat 60 ttcaattagt atcacttcat tgtaaagaaa aggtaagtat ccaacaaata tagcaggctg 120 tggattggta gcctgaaact atagcttcaa agaatcaact taagctgctc atcaaggcct 180 tagtggtaga aatgaggcgg taataagtgt aaatgaatct aatacttgga tctcgaaaca 240 aaaatcagaa attcggttgg aaaataagta gaacaagatg aaatgagcta tcatccccag 300 aaccaagtag acttccaagt aagcaatcta aaaattacta gattatttaa caagctgcga 360 ttcaaaatac ttgaac 376 <210> SEQ ID NO 24 <211> LENGTH: 172 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 24 ctgcaaagtg aagtaactaa tcagtacagc tattaccgaa tttgaccagc tattggatta 60 aataatatga aatccatcat caagaaatgg aaggtaaaaa ggtttctact tgtccttgga 120 tagaattaaa gcacttcata aacccaacac tttcaacttt agatgatttt ac 172 <210> SEQ ID NO 25 <211> LENGTH: 145 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 25 ctgttttcgt catgcgagga tcagaaaaaa gagttaaatt agacaatgtg aaaatgattt 60 gtttcagtta cttctccata aaacttgttc agtacattaa aaacaagcag agcaataatt 120 tcatggataa gtaaaacata tatac 145 <210> SEQ ID NO 26 <211> LENGTH: 242 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 26 ctgtcatgag aacagattgt atgtcagcat gaagacaaag atcatcaata aacagttttc 60 tcctttttga attagctaaa caacgcaggg ggagggcagg aggctcaaac acttccgaac 120 tcagacagtc ggatatctta tacaactaaa gatggatgag acaattacag ttctttttgg 180 tgagagaact gtaccctaca tctgttatct tattatcaaa agttattcaa gcaaatcctt 240 ac 242 <210> SEQ ID NO 27 <211> LENGTH: 797 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 27 cttcacaaac aaggagaaga agaagcaaaa agaaagatga atatagttag cttagttcaa 60 tataaaaaat ttctctccaa gctatttttc tgctagcaaa attcattagt tatttaactt 120 ttctatacat aaagctgcac aaagaaatag tagtacattt ttttgacttg cacaaaataa 180 ctgtgttgtc cattttctga catgtgttca tctacatgca ctgtttcaac aacaacaact 240 acttcagtcc caaacaagtt gggtcgcttt agctacacat gttgctttca cttctgttac 300 ttctttttgg actttttttc ttgagccaag ggtctattga aaaaatcctc tctacctctg 360 agataggagt aagttttgca tacactctac cctccccctg aaaccacttt gtgggactac 420 acgaggtatg ttgttgttga tgttagcgca gacaccaaag gtggacatta tatgactatt 480 cctagcttta cttcagggcg gttttaagtt cccatcaact tcatttttga tcatttacct 540 aagtttatgc aggtgcaagc tacatgcact ggtttaggga aaaagaggat agagaagaat 600 ttttttggca tccttttgtt ttgtaacagt aagatgccaa aagtagacct tattacggct 660 attcctacct ttcaaattag tagttcagag gacttaactg gcgattgtgg cggtaatcaa 720 tagttaactt ctatcgcatt caaataacta tgaacaaaac cacaataaaa agggaggtca 780 cacggcaaga actgtac 797 <210> SEQ ID NO 28 <211> LENGTH: 2169 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 28 cgaatgggtt ttgataaaac tttgaaatta atttccattg attaaattat ggtactttgc 60 ttcagctgct gccttcttgt atgttctgat tcttgatttc ctcattttag tggcttttta 120 taaaaaaaca ttatgaccct tttgttagtc ctcccctttc tgaatatttc actcagaccc 180 cattagtttc gaaattgaag taaaacatat tttttttagt attgtagttt ttttatattt 240 ctacttactt actcgttata caatttctat ttaggtaatc taatcgactt tttgtataca 300 taatacatgt atttttggta aagagttttt tactttctcc tagtggtaag gcagatatag 360 ttaaggattt attgacctaa tatgaacgcc aataatttta tattttgtat atacgtatat 420 ttaaaagttt actagatatg tataaataag atatttaaaa tttaattata aatacaaatg 480 attatggtaa aattttgacc tccaaattaa aatatttaaa atcaagattt gtcactactt 540 atatatatct tgttgtaaat cccttttaat caagttgtga gtttacaaat attcgttggt 600 taggctaaaa aaaataagct ataaagatca agtataaaat tatgcatttt ctgcatttaa 660 tttggaaaaa tatgttggag caatctaaaa ttgtttgttg atttataaat aagtcgtttt 720 ttgtttttaa taattgataa actatttatt ctgcttaaag ttttagaatg tcaaaaaata 780 atttatttta atgaccttaa atgattgaat aagatgtaga cacactcaat tacaaagtta 840 caatattaat acacttgtct attgggtcat ggattatatc atctaatata aataacatgt 900 caaattaaag cttcttataa agttcatagg aactaagata aactttgtga atggccaagc 960 atttttcaga acatcatggg tggtatgaca atcaaattga acttatggga tgaaaaatga 1020 atatcattca actaagaggg cacaacttga catgttagaa agtaaagcaa atttagtagt 1080 gggccaaata aaagaaatta atttgtcagt ttattcttaa actttacctt ctttgaactt 1140 ccacgttatc aaaggttcac ggttcatatg aaggccatgt gtatcctttt taattttggt 1200 attccgtgtt caatatcgat taatttaaat tcgcatgaca aaatcctata ttaaagtata 1260 aagtattttc taaaacagac aagttcaata ctttaatttt acactgaatg cataaattta 1320 cactataata attccagtcg cagtctacat tacaataatt aacaatttta gcatgaaatg 1380 aaaaacttta aattatatgc catcaaatca cttaaagtat acattttttt aataactagt 1440 tctaatccca cttgaaatga gagttatttt aatatcgacc gttaattacc attttattat 1500 taaatctgca actacagtca actacaccaa tgattttgct gatgccaact cataatataa 1560 tatccaccgt tcatgtgatt aattcaatat ttcatatacg tacgtaacaa aaattactaa 1620 attaacgttg gatataccat accctaagct ctgccaaatg tcaatgttct atcattagct 1680 atttttatgc atctataata gatgttaaat tcatattcta agattgaact taatcataaa 1740 ctcaaaattt gtggtacctg tcaatgcctc caaaagttga ttgaacataa acgttaagat 1800 ctgtgtactt gtcttttcct tgtaataatg tatgtatgat aataataata agagaacaaa 1860 atatggcaaa ataaacactt ttttaacatg taactcaaaa caagtaatag gcaaaagtac 1920 agatgacaac acaacactgt aaacatcatt gaggaaaaca aaaaccatac aacattttga 1980 ctgtaaatga agagtttgaa aacaaaaact atgttcaaac cgacgccaag ctaacgaaaa 2040 tagccataga gttctaagaa gcagatgcaa cagttccacg ggttagtatc gtctgtagta 2100 ggaccggtca tgagaactcg aaagaatctg aaaggaagta atgcatttga accagtaatt 2160 ggccatgat 2169 <210> SEQ ID NO 29 <211> LENGTH: 11469 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (2132..2209, 3375..3494, 3812..4033, 4538..4606, 4753..5022, 5241..6146, 6345..6461, 6670..6732, 7026..7133, 7510..7611, 7784..7852, 7998..8078, 8321..8437, 9235..9630) <400> SEQUENCE: 29 atcatggcca attactggtt caaatgcatt acttcctttc agattctttc gagttctcat 60 gaccggtcct actacagacg atactaaccc gtggaactgt tgcatctgct tcttagaact 120 ctatggctat tttcgttagc ttggcgtcgg tttgaacata gtttttgttt tcaaactctt 180 catttacagt caaaatgttg tatggttttt gttttcctca atgatgttta cagtgttgtg 240 ttgtcatctg tacttttgcc tattacttgt tttgagttac atgttaaaaa agtgtttatt 300 ttgccatatt ttgttctctt attattatta tcatacatac attattacaa ggaaaagaca 360 agtacacaga tcttaacgtt tatgttcaat caacttttgg aggcattgac aggtaccaca 420 aattttgagt ttatgattaa gttcaatctt agaatatgaa tttaacatct attatagatg 480 cataaaaata gctaatgata gaacattgac atttggcaga gcttagggta tggtatatcc 540 aacgttaatt tagtaatttt tgttacgtac gtatatgaaa tattgaatta atcacatgaa 600 cggtggatat tatattatga gttggcatca gcaaaatcat tggtgtagtt gactgtagtt 660 gcagatttaa taataaaatg gtaattaacg gtcgatatta aaataactct catttcaagt 720 gggattagaa ctagttatta aaaaaatgta tactttaagt gatttgatgg catataattt 780 aaagtttttc atttcatgct aaaattgtta attattgtaa tgtagactgc gactggaatt 840 attatagtgt aaatttatgc attcagtgta aaattaaagt attgaacttg tctgttttag 900 aaaatacttt atactttaat ataggatttt gtcatgcgaa tttaaattaa tcgatattga 960 acacggaata ccaaaattaa aaaggataca catggccttc atatgaaccg tgaacctttg 1020 ataacgtgga agttcaaaga aggtaaagtt taagaataaa ctgacaaatt aatttctttt 1080 atttggccca ctactaaatt tgctttactt tctaacatgt caagttgtgc cctcttagtt 1140 gaatgatatt catttttcat cccataagtt caatttgatt gtcataccac ccatgatgtt 1200 ctgaaaaatg cttggccatt cacaaagttt atcttagttc ctatgaactt tataagaagc 1260 tttaatttga catgttattt atattagatg atataatcca tgacccaata gacaagtgta 1320 ttaatattgt aactttgtaa ttgagtgtgt ctacatctta ttcaatcatt taaggtcatt 1380 aaaataaatt attttttgac attctaaaac tttaagcaga ataaatagtt tatcaattat 1440 taaaaacaaa aaacgactta tttataaatc aacaaacaat tttagattgc tccaacatat 1500 ttttccaaat taaatgcaga aaatgcataa ttttatactt gatctttata gcttattttt 1560 tttagcctaa ccaacgaata tttgtaaact cacaacttga ttaaaaggga tttacaacaa 1620 gatatatata agtagtgaca aatcttgatt ttaaatattt taatttggag gtcaaaattt 1680 taccataatc atttgtattt ataattaaat tttaaatatc ttatttatac atatctagta 1740 aacttttaaa tatacgtata tacaaaatat aaaattattg gcgttcatat taggtcaata 1800 aatccttaac tatatctgcc ttaccactag gagaaagtaa aaaactcttt accaaaaata 1860 catgtattat gtatacaaaa agtcgattag attacctaaa tagaaattgt ataacgagta 1920 agtaagtaga aatataaaaa aactacaata ctaaaaaaaa tatgttttac ttcaatttcg 1980 aaactaatgg ggtctgagtg aaatattcag aaaggggagg actaacaaaa gggtcataat 2040 gtttttttat aaaaagccac taaaatgagg aaatcaagaa tcagaacata caagaaggca 2100 gcagctgaag caaagtacca taatttaatc a atg gaa att aat ttc aaa gtt 2152 Met Glu Ile Asn Phe Lys Val 1 5 tta tca aaa ccc att cga gga tct ttt cca tct ttc tca cct aaa gtt 2200 Leu Ser Lys Pro Ile Arg Gly Ser Phe Pro Ser Phe Ser Pro Lys Val 10 15 20 tct tca ggg gtaattttta ctaatttcat gttaatttca attattttta 2249 Ser Ser Gly 25 gcctttgcat ttcattttcc aatatatctg gatcatctcc ttagtttttt attttatttt 2309 ttataatatc aaatatggaa gaaaaatgac acttgtagag ccatatgtaa gtatcatgtg 2369 acaaatttgc aaggtggttg agtgtataaa attcaaaaat tgagagatgg agggggggtg 2429 ggggaagaca atatttagaa agagtgttct aggaggttat ggaggacacg gatgaggggt 2489 agaaggttag ttaggtattt gagtgttgtc tggcttatcc tttcatacta gtagtcgtgg 2549 aattatttgg gtagtttctt gttttgttat ttgatctttg ttattctatt ttctgtttct 2609 tgtacttcga ttattgtatt atatatcttg tcgtagttat tgttcctcgg taagaatgct 2669 ctagcatgct tcctttagtg ttttatcatg ccttctttat attcgcgttg ctttgaaatg 2729 cttttacttt agccgagggt ctattagaaa caatctctct atctcgtaag gtaggggtaa 2789 agtcctcacc acactccact tgtgggatta cattgtgttt gttgttgtaa atcaattatg 2849 tatacataat aagtggattt tttacaacac aaatacatgg tcaagggcaa agttctgaac 2909 acataaaggg ttcattatat gtccagggat atgataaaaa ttgtttcttt gtgaaagtta 2969 tataagattt gttatggctt ttgctggaaa cataataagt tataatgctg agatagctac 3029 tgaagtttgt tttttctagc cttttaaatg taccaataat agattccgta tcgaacgagt 3089 atgttttgat tacctggtca tgatgtttct attttttaca tttttttggt gttgaactgc 3149 aattgaaaat gttgtatcct atgagacgga tagttgagaa tgtgttcttt gtatggacct 3209 tgagaagctc aaacgctact ccaataattt ctatgaattc aaattcagtt tatggctacc 3269 agtcagtcca gaaattagga tatgctgcat atacttgttc aattatactg taaaatttct 3329 taagttctca agatatccat gtaacctcga gaatttcttt gacag gct tct aga 3383 Ala Ser Arg aat aag ata tgt ttt cct tct caa cat agt act gga ctg aag ttt gga 3431 Asn Lys Ile Cys Phe Pro Ser Gln His Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Phe Gly 30 35 40 45 tct cag gaa cgg tct tgg gat att tct tcc acc cca aaa tca aga gtt 3479 Ser Gln Glu Arg Ser Trp Asp Ile Ser Ser Thr Pro Lys Ser Arg Val 50 55 60 aga aaa gat gaa agg gtatgtttga taatttatat ggttgcatgg atagtatata 3534 Arg Lys Asp Glu Arg 65 aatagttgga aaacttctgg actggtgctc atggcatatt tgatctgtgc accgtgtgga 3594 gatgtcaaac atgtgttact tcgttccgcc aatttataat accttaactt gggaaagaca 3654 gctctttact cctgtgggca tttgttattt gaattacaat ctttatgagc atggtgtttt 3714 cacattatca acttctttca tgtggtatat aacagttttt agctccgtta atacctttct 3774 tctttttgat ataaactaac tgtggtgcat tgcttgc atg aag cac agt tca gct 3829 Met Lys His Ser Ser Ala 70 att tcc gct gtt ttg acc gat gac gac aat tcg aca atg gca ccc cta 3877 Ile Ser Ala Val Leu Thr Asp Asp Asp Asn Ser Thr Met Ala Pro Leu 75 80 85 gag gaa gat gtc aag act gaa aat att ggc ctc cta aat ttg gat cca 3925 Glu Glu Asp Val Lys Thr Glu Asn Ile Gly Leu Leu Asn Leu Asp Pro 90 95 100 act ttg gaa cct tat cta gat cac ttc aga cac aga atg aag aga tat 3973 Thr Leu Glu Pro Tyr Leu Asp His Phe Arg His Arg Met Lys Arg Tyr 105 110 115 120 gtg gat cag aaa atg ctc att gaa aaa tat gag gga ccc ctt gag gaa 4021 Val Asp Gln Lys Met Leu Ile Glu Lys Tyr Glu Gly Pro Leu Glu Glu 125 130 135 ttt gct caa ggt aacagccaaa agttgtgctt taggcagttt gaccttattt 4073 Phe Ala Gln Gly 140 tggaagatga attgtttata cctactttga ctttgctaga gaattttgca taccggggag 4133 taagtagtgg ctccatttag gtggcacctg gccatttttt tgatctttta aaaagctgtt 4193 tgattgggtc ttcaaaaaag tagacaaggt ttttggagaa gtgacacacc cccggagtgt 4253 cagtggcaaa gcaaagattt tcactaagga gattcaaaat ataaaaaaag tatagacata 4313 aagaagctga ggggattcaa catgtactat acaagcatca aatatagtct taaagcaatt 4373 ttgtagaaat aaagaaagtc ttccttctgt tgcttcacaa tttccttcta ttatcatgag 4433 ttactctttc tgttcgaaat agcttcctta atattaaatt catgatactt ttgttgagat 4493 ttagcagttt tttcttgtgt aaactgctct ctttttttgc aggt tat tta aaa ttt 4549 Tyr Leu Lys Phe gga ttc aac agg gaa gat ggt tgc ata gtc tat cgt gaa tgg gct cct 4597 Gly Phe Asn Arg Glu Asp Gly Cys Ile Val Tyr Arg Glu Trp Ala Pro 145 150 155 160 gct gct cag taggtcctcg tctactacaa aatagtagtt tccatcatca 4646 Ala Ala Gln taacagattt tcctattaaa gcatgatgtt gcagcatcat tggctttctt acatgttcta 4706 attgctatta aggttatgct tctaattaac tcatccacaa tgcagg gaa gca gaa 4761 Glu Ala Glu 165 gtt att ggc gat ttc aat gga tgg aac ggt tct aac cac atg atg gag 4809 Val Ile Gly Asp Phe Asn Gly Trp Asn Gly Ser Asn His Met Met Glu 170 175 180 aag gac cag ttt ggt gtt tgg agt att aga att cct gat gtt gac agt 4857 Lys Asp Gln Phe Gly Val Trp Ser Ile Arg Ile Pro Asp Val Asp Ser 185 190 195 aag cca gtc att cca cac aac tcc aga gtt aag ttt cgt ttc aaa cat 4905 Lys Pro Val Ile Pro His Asn Ser Arg Val Lys Phe Arg Phe Lys His 200 205 210 ggt aat gga gtg tgg gta gat cgt atc cct gct tgg ata aag tat gcc 4953 Gly Asn Gly Val Trp Val Asp Arg Ile Pro Ala Trp Ile Lys Tyr Ala 215 220 225 230 act gca gac gcc aca aag ttt gca gca cca tat gat ggt gtc tac tgg 5001 Thr Ala Asp Ala Thr Lys Phe Ala Ala Pro Tyr Asp Gly Val Tyr Trp 235 240 245 gac cca cca cct tca gaa agg ttttgttatt cataccttga agctgaattt 5052 Asp Pro Pro Pro Ser Glu Arg 250 tgaacaccat catcacaggc atttcgattc atgttcttac tagtcttgtt atgtaagaca 5112 ttttgaaatg caaaagttaa aataattgtg tctttactaa tttggacttg atcccatact 5172 ctttccctta acaaaatgag tcaattctat aagtgcttga gaacttacta cttcagcaat 5232 taaacagg tac cac ttc aaa tac cct cgc cct ccc aaa ccc cga gcc cca 5282 Tyr His Phe Lys Tyr Pro Arg Pro Pro Lys Pro Arg Ala Pro 255 260 265 cga atc tat gaa gca cat gtc ggc atg agc agc tct gag cca cgt gta 5330 Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ala His Val Gly Met Ser Ser Ser Glu Pro Arg Val 270 275 280 aat tcg tat cgt gag ttt gca gat gat gtt tta cct cgg att aag gca 5378 Asn Ser Tyr Arg Glu Phe Ala Asp Asp Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Ala 285 290 295 aat aac tat aat act gtc cag ttg atg gcc ata atg gaa cat tct tac 5426 Asn Asn Tyr Asn Thr Val Gln Leu Met Ala Ile Met Glu His Ser Tyr 300 305 310 315 tat gga tca ttt gga tat cat gtt aca aac ttt ttt gct gtg agc agt 5474 Tyr Gly Ser Phe Gly Tyr His Val Thr Asn Phe Phe Ala Val Ser Ser 320 325 330 aga tat gga aac ccg gag gac cta aag tat ctg ata gat aaa gca cat 5522 Arg Tyr Gly Asn Pro Glu Asp Leu Lys Tyr Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His 335 340 345 agc ttg ggt tta cag gtt ctg gtg gat gta gtt cac agt cat gca agc 5570 Ser Leu Gly Leu Gln Val Leu Val Asp Val Val His Ser His Ala Ser 350 355 360 aat aat gtc act gat ggc ctc aat ggc ttt gat att ggc caa ggt tct 5618 Asn Asn Val Thr Asp Gly Leu Asn Gly Phe Asp Ile Gly Gln Gly Ser 365 370 375 caa gaa tcc tac ttt cat gct gga gag cga ggg tac cat aag ttg tgg 5666 Gln Glu Ser Tyr Phe His Ala Gly Glu Arg Gly Tyr His Lys Leu Trp 380 385 390 395 gat agc agg ctg ttc aac tat gcc aat tgg gag gtt ctt cgt ttc ctt 5714 Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe Asn Tyr Ala Asn Trp Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Leu 400 405 410 ctt tcc aac ttg agg tgg tgg cta gaa gag tat aac ttt gac gga ttt 5762 Leu Ser Asn Leu Arg Trp Trp Leu Glu Glu Tyr Asn Phe Asp Gly Phe 415 420 425 cga ttt gat gga ata act tct atg ctg tat gtt cat cat gga atc aat 5810 Arg Phe Asp Gly Ile Thr Ser Met Leu Tyr Val His His Gly Ile Asn 430 435 440 atg gga ttt aca gga aac tat aat gag tat ttc agc gag gct aca gat 5858 Met Gly Phe Thr Gly Asn Tyr Asn Glu Tyr Phe Ser Glu Ala Thr Asp 445 450 455 gtt gat gct gtg gtc tat tta atg ttg gcc aat aat ctg att cac aag 5906 Val Asp Ala Val Val Tyr Leu Met Leu Ala Asn Asn Leu Ile His Lys 460 465 470 475 att ttc cca gat gca act gtt att gcc gaa gat gtt tct ggt atg ccg 5954 Ile Phe Pro Asp Ala Thr Val Ile Ala Glu Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro 480 485 490 ggc ctt ggc cgg cct gtt tct gag gga gga att ggt ttt gtt tac cgc 6002 Gly Leu Gly Arg Pro Val Ser Glu Gly Gly Ile Gly Phe Val Tyr Arg 495 500 505 ctg gca atg gca atc cca gat aag tgg ata gat tat tta aag aat aag 6050 Leu Ala Met Ala Ile Pro Asp Lys Trp Ile Asp Tyr Leu Lys Asn Lys 510 515 520 aat gat gaa gat tgg tcc atg aag gaa gta aca tcg agt ttg aca aat 6098 Asn Asp Glu Asp Trp Ser Met Lys Glu Val Thr Ser Ser Leu Thr Asn 525 530 535 agg aga tat aca gag aag tgt ata gca tat gcg gag acc cat gat cag 6146 Arg Arg Tyr Thr Glu Lys Cys Ile Ala Tyr Ala Glu Thr His Asp Gln 540 545 550 555 gtattttaaa tttatttcta caactaaata attctcagaa caattgttag atagaatcca 6206 aatatatacg tcctgaaagt ataaaagtac ttattttcgc catgggcctt cagaatattg 6266 gtagccgctg aatatcatga taagttattt atccagtgac atttttatgt tcactcctat 6326 tatgtctgct ggatacag tct att gtt ggt gac aag acc att gca ttt ctc 6377 Ser Ile Val Gly Asp Lys Thr Ile Ala Phe Leu 560 565 cta atg gac aaa gag atg tat tct ggc atg tct tgc ttg aca gat gct 6425 Leu Met Asp Lys Glu Met Tyr Ser Gly Met Ser Cys Leu Thr Asp Ala 570 575 580 tct cct gtt gtt gat cga gga att gcg ctt cac aag gtttgtctgt 6471 Ser Pro Val Val Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu His Lys 585 590 ttctattgca ttttaaggtt catataggtt agccacggaa aatctcactc tttgtgaggt 6531 aaccagggtt ctgatggatt attcaatttt ctcgtttatc atttgtttat tcttttcatg 6591 cattgtgttt ctttttcaat atccctctta tttggaggta atttttctca tctattcact 6651 tttagcttct aaccacag atg atc cat ttt ttc aca atg gcc ttg gga gga 6702 Met Ile His Phe Phe Thr Met Ala Leu Gly Gly 595 600 605 gag ggg tac ctc aat ttc atg ggt aac gag gtatgtctta catctttaga 6752 Glu Gly Tyr Leu Asn Phe Met Gly Asn Glu 610 615 tattttgtga taattacaat tagtttggct tacttgaaca agattcattc ctcaaaatga 6812 cctgaactgt tgaacatcaa aggggttgaa acatagagga aaacaacatg atgaatgttt 6872 ccattgtcta gggatttcta ttatgttgct gagaacaaat gtcatcttaa aaaaaacatt 6932 gtttactttt ttgtagtata gaagattact gtatagagtt tgcaagtgtg tctgttttgg 6992 agtaattgtg aaatgtttga tgaacttgta cag ttt ggc cat cct gag tgg att 7046 Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile 620 gac ttc cct aga gag ggc aat aat tgg agt tat gac aaa tgt aga cgc 7094 Asp Phe Pro Arg Glu Gly Asn Asn Trp Ser Tyr Asp Lys Cys Arg Arg 625 630 635 cag tgg aac ctc gcg gat agc gaa cac ttg aga tac aag gttcaagtat 7143 Gln Trp Asn Leu Ala Asp Ser Glu His Leu Arg Tyr Lys 640 645 650 tttgaatcgc agcttgttaa ataatctagt aatttttaga ttgcttactt ggaagtctac 7203 ttggttctgg ggatgatagc tcatttcatc ttgttctact tattttccaa ccgaatttct 7263 gatttttgtt tcgagatcca agtattagat tcatttacac ttattaccgc ctcatttcta 7323 ccactaaggc cttgatgagc agcttaagtt gattctttga agctatagtt tcaggctacc 7383 aatccacagc ctgctatatt tgttggatac ttaccttttc tttacaatga agtgatacta 7443 attgaaatgg tctaaatctg atatctatat ttctccgtct ttcctccccc tcatgatgaa 7503 atgcag ttt atg aat gca ttt gat aga gct atg aat tcg ctc gat gaa 7551 Phe Met Asn Ala Phe Asp Arg Ala Met Asn Ser Leu Asp Glu 655 660 665 aag ttc tca ttc ctc gca tca gga aaa cag ata gta agc agc atg gat 7599 Lys Phe Ser Phe Leu Ala Ser Gly Lys Gln Ile Val Ser Ser Met Asp 670 675 680 gat gat aat aag gtaaaatcat ctaaagttga aagtgttggg tttatgaagt 7651 Asp Asp Asn Lys 685 gctttaattc tatccaagga caagtagaaa cctttttacc ttccatttct tgatgatgga 7711 tttcatatta tttaatccaa tagctggtca aattcggtaa tagctgtact gattagttac 7771 ttcactttgc ag gtt gtt gtg ttt gaa cgt ggt gac ctg gta ttt gta 7819 Val Val Val Phe Glu Arg Gly Asp Leu Val Phe Val 690 695 ttc aac ttc cac cca aag aac aca tac gaa ggg tatatatgtt ttacttatcc 7872 Phe Asn Phe His Pro Lys Asn Thr Tyr Glu Gly 700 705 atgaaattat tgctctgctt gtttttaatg tactgaacaa gttttatgga gaagtaactg 7932 aaacaaatca ttttcacatt gtctaattta actctttttt ctgatcctcg catgacgaaa 7992 acagg tat aaa gtt gga tgt gac ttg cca ggg aag tac aga gtt gca 8039 Tyr Lys Val Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gly Lys Tyr Arg Val Ala 710 715 720 ctg gac agt gat gct tgg gaa ttt ggt ggc cat gga aga gtaaggattt 8088 Leu Asp Ser Asp Ala Trp Glu Phe Gly Gly His Gly Arg 725 730 735 gcttgaataa cttttgataa taagataaca gatgtagggt acagttctct caccaaaaag 8148 aactgtaatt gtctcatcca tctttagttg tataagatat ccgactgtct gagttcggaa 8208 gtgtttgagc ctcctgccct ccccctgcgt tgtttagcta attcaaaaag gagaaaactg 8268 tttattgatg atctttgtct tcatgctgac atacaatctg ttctcatgac ag act 8323 Thr ggt cat gat gtt gac cat ttc aca tca cca gaa gga ata cct gga gtt 8371 Gly His Asp Val Asp His Phe Thr Ser Pro Glu Gly Ile Pro Gly Val 740 745 750 cca gaa aca aat ttc aat ggt cgt cca aat tcc ttc aaa gtg ctg tct 8419 Pro Glu Thr Asn Phe Asn Gly Arg Pro Asn Ser Phe Lys Val Leu Ser 755 760 765 cct gcg cga aca tgt gtg gtacagttct tgccgtgtga cctccctttt 8467 Pro Ala Arg Thr Cys Val 770 tattgtggtt ttgttcatag ttatttgaat gcgatagaag ttaactattg attaccgcca 8527 caatcgccag ttaagtcctc tgaactacta atttgaaagg taggaatagc cgtaataagg 8587 tctacttttg gcatcttact gttacaaaac aaaaggatgc caaaaaaatt cttctctatc 8647 ctctttttcc ctaaaccagt gcatgtagct tgcacctgca taaacttagg taaatgatca 8707 aaaatgaagt tgatgggaac ttaaaaccgc cctgaagtaa agctaggaat agtcatataa 8767 tgtccacctt tggtgtctgc gctaacatca acaacaacat acctcgtgta gtcccacaaa 8827 gtggtttcag ggggagggta gagtgtatgc aaaacttact cctatctcag aggtagagag 8887 gattttttca atagaccctt ggctcaagaa aaaaagtcca aaaagaagta acagaagtga 8947 aagcaacatg tgtagctaaa gcgacccaac ttgtttggga ctgaagtagt tgttgttgtt 9007 gaaacagtgc atgtagatga acacatgtca gaaaatggac aacacagtta ttttgtgcaa 9067 gtcaaaaaaa tgtactacta tttctttgtg cagctttatg tatagaaaag ttaaataact 9127 aatgaatttt gctagcagaa aaatagcttg gagagaaatt ttttatattg aactaagcta 9187 actatattca tctttctttt tgcttcttct tctccttgtt tgtgaag gct tat tac 9243 Ala Tyr Tyr 775 aga gtt gat gaa cgc atg tca gaa act gaa gat tac cag aca gac att 9291 Arg Val Asp Glu Arg Met Ser Glu Thr Glu Asp Tyr Gln Thr Asp Ile 780 785 790 tgt agt gag cta cta cca aca gcc aat atc gag gag agt gac gag aaa 9339 Cys Ser Glu Leu Leu Pro Thr Ala Asn Ile Glu Glu Ser Asp Glu Lys 795 800 805 ctt aaa gat tcg tta tct aca aat atc agt aac att gac gaa cgc atg 9387 Leu Lys Asp Ser Leu Ser Thr Asn Ile Ser Asn Ile Asp Glu Arg Met 810 815 820 825 tca gaa act gaa gtt tac cag aca gac att tct agt gag cta cta cca 9435 Ser Glu Thr Glu Val Tyr Gln Thr Asp Ile Ser Ser Glu Leu Leu Pro 830 835 840 aca gcc aat att gag gag agt gac gag aaa ctt aaa gat tcg tta tct 9483 Thr Ala Asn Ile Glu Glu Ser Asp Glu Lys Leu Lys Asp Ser Leu Ser 845 850 855 aca aat atc agt aac att gat cag act gtt gta gtt tct gtt gag gag 9531 Thr Asn Ile Ser Asn Ile Asp Gln Thr Val Val Val Ser Val Glu Glu 860 865 870 aga gac aag gaa ctt aaa gat tca ccg tct gta agc atc att agt gat 9579 Arg Asp Lys Glu Leu Lys Asp Ser Pro Ser Val Ser Ile Ile Ser Asp 875 880 885 gtt gtt cca gct gaa tgg gat gat tca gat gca aac gtc tgg ggt gag 9627 Val Val Pro Ala Glu Trp Asp Asp Ser Asp Ala Asn Val Trp Gly Glu 890 895 900 905 gac tagtcagatg attgatcgac ccttctaccg attggtgatc gctatccttg 9680 Asp ctctctgaga aataggtgag gcgaaacaaa aaataatttg catgataaaa agtctgattt 9740 tatgatcgct atcctcgctc tctgagaaag aagcgaaaca aaggcgactc ctggactcga 9800 atctataaga taacaaaggc gactcctggg actcgaatct ataagataac aaaggcaatt 9860 ccaagacttg aatctataaa aaatttagtt aagaatgatt aacgtccgat cctaattcga 9920 atcgaggcat cttaccactc cattgataat tatataagtc aataagtcat ataaagtatt 9980 aaaaactaaa ttgacttgat cggtctatca aaaatagata aattgtgttc atatgtaaca 10040 tttttgttgt cacaattagc ttaattacat ctttcatgtg caataacaaa gaaatgatag 10100 gaatttagag attccaattt ttttgttgcc acaattaact taattacatc tttcatttgc 10160 aataacaaag aaatgatagg aatttagaga tccagtgtca atacacaacc taggccaaca 10220 tcgaaagcat aactgtaaac tcatgcatga agaaatcagt cgtaaaaatg aataaatgcg 10280 acataaaaac aaattgcatg tatcattaat gtgacttaac tacaagtaaa aataaattta 10340 acaaatgtaa cttaactaca agtaaaaata aattgcttct atcattaaca aacaaacaga 10400 attaaaaaga aaaaaacata ctaaatctta ccgtcattcg ataaaaaaaa ataccaaatt 10460 cataatgcaa ggaaaacgaa acgcgtcctg atcgggtatc aacgatgaaa tggaccagtt 10520 ggatcgactg cctgcacaac gttaggtatg ccaaaaaaaa gaacacgatc ctttgcaccc 10580 gttcgatgat tatcagtatg ttcacaaaaa aaacttaagt tcatcccagt gtacaacagc 10640 cccaacatct gccccaagta acaaaaaaca accaatttat cttattctta tctgccacaa 10700 aataatcggt ttcacactat tctcttgtta tacaaaattg acaagtagga aggagaggag 10760 tcatccaaat aaacggtgca cgttctttga gaaaagtctt atttttcgta agatccaatt 10820 tcaacaaact tttcttcaag tcaaaattcc tgatagtgta tctcctctcg acgacctctt 10880 gcattgaacg atctccgctt atcatgaaaa gttgcttgga taacaagtat tgcaaggggg 10940 ggacagtagc tattaagtta gtcggcccaa ggaaatggag gagtgatagt ctcgaatatt 11000 attcacctct ttagcattac ccggtctggc tttaaggagt tacgtctttt acgctcgcca 11060 atttcttttt ttagaatggt tggtgtcaaa atcgcgagtt gtggaaggtt caagttactc 11120 gattcgtgat tttcaagtat gagtggtgag agagattcga tattttcacg aggtgtattc 11180 gaggtctagt agaacgaagg gtgtcactaa tgaaagtttc aagagttcat catcatcttc 11240 ttctagtaga ttttcgcttt caaatgagta tgaaaattct tcctcttttc tattgatttt 11300 cttcattgtt ttcttcattg ttgtggttgt tattgaaaag aaagaaaatt tataacagaa 11360 aaagatgtca aaaaaaaggt aaaatgaaag agtatcatat acttaaagag ttgcgtagag 11420 ataagtcaaa agaaacagaa ttatagtaat ttcagctaag ttagaattc 11469 <210> SEQ ID NO 30 <211> LENGTH: 26 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 30 ggaattccag tcgcagtcta cattac 26 <210> SEQ ID NO 31 <211> LENGTH: 28 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 31 cgggatccag aggcattaag atttctgg 28 <210> SEQ ID NO 32 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 32 cgggatccaa agaaattctc gaggttacat gg 32 <210> SEQ ID NO 33 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 33 cgggatccgg ggtaattttt actaatttca tg 32 <210> SEQ ID NO 34 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 34 cgggatcccg tatgtctcac tgtgtttgtg gc 32 <210> SEQ ID NO 35 <211> LENGTH: 32 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 35 cgggatcccc ctacatacat atatcagatt ag 32 <210> SEQ ID NO 36 <211> LENGTH: 28 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 36 ccatcgatac tttaagtgat ttgatggc 28 <210> SEQ ID NO 37 <211> LENGTH: 28 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Artificial Sequence <220> FEATURE: <223> OTHER INFORMATION: Description of Artificial Sequence: Primer <400> SEQUENCE: 37 cgggatcctg ttctgattct tgatttcc 28 <210> SEQ ID NO 38 <211> LENGTH: 2122 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 38 gtatgtctca ctgtgtttgt ggctgtgtgt gtttttttct ctgtcttttt gtgttttgtg 60 taattggggc tctttaaagt tggtattgtg tatacccttt tgagtatagt ctttgaggaa 120 gcaaaatgat gaatcttgat tgacattagt aagggttgta actttttgaa gtttggttag 180 gtgtaattga gtttggcttg tgtgtctgtg tgtcgaggtt atttttttgg tttgtgttat 240 tggggattct taaaagttgg tattgtgtat acccttttga gtatagtctt tgaggaagca 300 aaaatgatga atcttgattg gcattagtaa aggttgtagc tttttgaagt gtggttaggt 360 gtaattgagt ttggcttgtg tgtctgtgtg ttttggaatc ctgatgtgtg tcaagtcctg 420 atatgggtcg aggttctttc tttggtttgt gtaattgggg gttcttaaaa gttggtatta 480 tgtacctttt taagaatagt gtctgagaaa gcaaaatcga tgaattttga ttgacagcat 540 attctttgag aaagcaaaaa atggtgagtt ttcatggaga aacttgattg acattactaa 600 aggtagcaac tttttcaact cctgatatgg gtcaaggttc tttgtttggt ttgtgtaatt 660 tggggttctt tgaagttttg agaaagaaaa attatgattt ttcatggaga aatttgattt 720 acattaataa aggtagtagc tttttaaagt gtggtcagct gtaatgagtt cagcttggtt 780 taaaggggcc ctacatatgg tgctttctgg tgagatattt gttgctccac catacgagtt 840 ataagaatca tagtgttagg atcttttttc tttttttttt catttttcac ttgactagct 900 actagaggag tgatcttgac ggcggaaaat cttagaaagg ggaaggttgt ttgcatcaac 960 tggtgttata tgtgcaagga gacgggagat gatgtagatc atcttcttct tcattgtggt 1020 ctttccatga ggttatgatg tgatatgttt gaatggtttg gtacttcttg gctatgccaa 1080 gaactgtgaa agaattgata ttcagttgga agtgtggagt tggaagagtg gaagaattga 1140 cacttggttc cattagcttt aatgtgggtg gtgtggagag agagagaaat aggagagctt 1200 ttgagggggt agagttgagc tttcctcagt tgagaagtag cctttgatat cttttttttt 1260 tttttttgta cacccataga attcccaatt gtatagaaga ttgggtggag tttgtagaga 1320 atcatctttt gtagtagatt ctttaccttt tggtatatcc attgtataca gccaggcctt 1380 tgactatgtt tatgaatgaa tatacattac ttgaaaaaaa aagaagtgaa gccagtctgt 1440 tgtacctttg tagacaatgt tgttgcagca tcttgataat tccctgaaaa ttgtctccct 1500 gaaggaatag tttggttgat attgattatt tcttggtttg tttaattcgg tgttcttgaa 1560 ggccatttta aatcctttga cattgttaaa ggtgtttaca agtgttggtc tgggtttaaa 1620 agcacctctt gtatggtgct ttctggagtg atctttcttc ctccaaaaga gaagttgcaa 1680 gaatcagtgt gtgtactttt ttctcttgta tgatcagatc ttttttcaat ttttccgttt 1740 tagttgattt atccatatag tgaaagttgg tgtcatagtt gctgtttgtg gacttcctgt 1800 aaaagttttt tgatatactt aaaaaattgt cacacagaag aaagagtttt ttaccattac 1860 ttaagctaga tgggactgtt tgattcttag accaaataat gaaccttttt gttctcttaa 1920 cgtgtacttg aaatagtttg gtaaaattgt gataggaaaa aagataattc ttgattgctt 1980 ttggagcatc acttctaatc ataaaagtct ttgctctctt caaccatgaa tgataaattg 2040 gacacttatg tggccctaag ttgctctcag tagtggtctt taattgtgga gatataacta 2100 atctgatata tgtatgtagg ga 2122 <210> SEQ ID NO 39 <211> LENGTH: 2309 <212> TYPE: DNA <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <220> FEATURE: <221> NAME/KEY: CDS <222> LOCATION: (2..127, 2247..2309) <400> SEQUENCE: 39 g tat aca ctc tct gga gtt cgt ttt cct act gtt cca tca gtg tac 46 Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Phe Pro Thr Val Pro Ser Val Tyr 1 5 10 15 aaa tct aat gga ttc agc agt aat ggt gat cgg agg aat gct aat att 94 Lys Ser Asn Gly Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Asp Arg Arg Asn Ala Asn Ile 20 25 30 tct gta ttc ttg aaa aaa cac tct ctt tca cgt atgtctcact gtgtttgtgg 147 Ser Val Phe Leu Lys Lys His Ser Leu Ser Arg 35 40 ctgtgtgtgt ttttttctct gtctttttgt gttttgtgta attggggctc tttaaagttg 207 gtattgtgta tacccttttg agtatagtct ttgaggaagc aaaatgatga atcttgattg 267 acattagtaa gggttgtaac tttttgaagt ttggttaggt gtaattgagt ttggcttgtg 327 tgtctgtgtg tcgaggttat ttttttggtt tgtgttattg gggatcttaa aagttggtat 387 tgtgtatacc cttttgagta tagtctttga ggaagcaaaa atgatgaatc ttgattggca 447 ttagtaaagg ttgtagcttt ttgaagtgtg gttaggtgta attgagtttg gcttgtgtgt 507 ctgtgtgttt tggaatcctg atgtgtgtca agtcctgata tgggtcgagg ttctttcttt 567 ggtttgtgta attgggggtt cttaaaagtt ggtattatgt acctttttaa gaatagtgtc 627 tgagaaagca aaatcgatga attttgattg acagcatatt ctttgagaaa gcaaaaaatg 687 gtgagttttc atggagaaac ttgattgaca ttactaaagg tagcaacttt ttcaactcct 747 gatatgggtc aaggttcttt gtttggtttg tgtaatttgg ggttctttga agttttgaga 807 aagaaaaatt atgatttttc atggagaaat ttgatttaca ttaataaagg tagtagcttt 867 ttaaagtgtg gtcagctgta atgagttcag cttggtttaa aggggcccct acatatggtg 927 ctttctggtg agatatttgt tgctccacca tacgagttat aagaatcata gtgttaggat 987 cttttttctt ttttttttca tttttcactt gactagctac tagaggagtg atcttgacgg 1047 cggaaaatct tagaaagggg aaggttgttt gcatcaactg gtgttatatg tgcaaggaga 1107 cgggagatga tgtagatcat cttcttcttc attgtggtct ttccatgagg ttatgatgtg 1167 atatgtttga atggtttggt acttcttggc tatgccaaga actgtgaaag aattgatatt 1227 cagttggaag tgtggagttg gaagagtgga agaattgaca cttggttcca ttagctttaa 1287 tgtgggtggt gtggagagag agagaaatag gagagctttt gagggggtag agttgagctt 1347 tcctcagttg agaagtagcc tttgatatct tttttttttt tttttgtaca cccatagaat 1407 tcccaattgt atagaagatt gggtggagtt tgtagagaat catcttttgt agtagattct 1467 ttaccttttg gtatatccat tgtatacagc caggcctttg actatgttta tgaatgaata 1527 tacattactt gaaaaaaaaa gaagtgaagc cagtctgttg tacctttgta gacaatgttg 1587 ttgcagcatc ttgataattc cctgaaaatt gtctccctga aggaatagtt tggttgatat 1647 tgattatttc ttggtttgtt taattcggtg ttcttgaagg ccattttaaa tcctttgaca 1707 ttgttaaagg tgtttacaag tgttggtctg ggtttaaaag cacctcttgt atggtgcttt 1767 ctggagtgat ctttcttcct ccaaaagaga agttgcaaga atcagtgtgt gtactttttt 1827 ctcttgtatg atcagatctt ttttcaattt ttccgtttta gttgatttat ccatatagtg 1887 aaagttggtg tcatagttgc tgtttgtgga cttcctgtaa aagttttttg atatacttaa 1947 aaaattgtca cacagaagaa agagtttttt accattactt aagctagatg ggactgtttg 2007 attcttagac caaataatga acctttttgt tctcttaacg tgtacttgaa atagtttggt 2067 aaaattgtga taggaaaaaa gataattctt gattgctttt ggagcatcac ttctaatcat 2127 aaaagtcttt gctctcttca accatgaatg ataaattgga cacttatgtg gccctaagtt 2187 gctctcagta gtggtcttta attgtggaga tataactaat ctgatatatg tatgtaggg 2246 aag atc ttg gct gaa aag tct tct tac aat tcc gaa tcc cga cct tct 2294 Lys Ile Leu Ala Glu Lys Ser Ser Tyr Asn Ser Glu Ser Arg Pro Ser 45 50 55 aca gtt gca gca tcg 2309 Thr Val Ala Ala Ser 60 <210> SEQ ID NO 40 <211> LENGTH: 63 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 40 Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Phe Pro Thr Val Pro Ser Val Tyr Lys 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Gly Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Asp Arg Arg Asn Ala Asn Ile Ser 20 25 30 Val Phe Leu Lys Lys His Ser Leu Ser Arg Lys Ile Leu Ala Glu Lys 35 40 45 Ser Ser Tyr Asn Ser Glu Ser Arg Pro Ser Thr Val Ala Ala Ser 50 55 60 <210> SEQ ID NO 41 <211> LENGTH: 906 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 41 Met Glu Ile Asn Phe Lys Val Leu Ser Lys Pro Ile Arg Gly Ser Phe 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Phe Ser Pro Lys Val Ser Ser Gly Ala Ser Arg Asn Lys Ile 20 25 30 Cys Phe Pro Ser Gln His Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Phe Gly Ser Gln Glu 35 40 45 Arg Ser Trp Asp Ile Ser Ser Thr Pro Lys Ser Arg Val Arg Lys Asp 50 55 60 Glu Arg Met Lys His Ser Ser Ala Ile Ser Ala Val Leu Thr Asp Asp 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Ser Thr Met Ala Pro Leu Glu Glu Asp Val Lys Thr Glu Asn 85 90 95 Ile Gly Leu Leu Asn Leu Asp Pro Thr Leu Glu Pro Tyr Leu Asp His 100 105 110 Phe Arg His Arg Met Lys Arg Tyr Val Asp Gln Lys Met Leu Ile Glu 115 120 125 Lys Tyr Glu Gly Pro Leu Glu Glu Phe Ala Gln Gly Tyr Leu Lys Phe 130 135 140 Gly Phe Asn Arg Glu Asp Gly Cys Ile Val Tyr Arg Glu Trp Ala Pro 145 150 155 160 Ala Ala Gln Glu Ala Glu Val Ile Gly Asp Phe Asn Gly Trp Asn Gly 165 170 175 Ser Asn His Met Met Glu Lys Asp Gln Phe Gly Val Trp Ser Ile Arg 180 185 190 Ile Pro Asp Val Asp Ser Lys Pro Val Ile Pro His Asn Ser Arg Val 195 200 205 Lys Phe Arg Phe Lys His Gly Asn Gly Val Trp Val Asp Arg Ile Pro 210 215 220 Ala Trp Ile Lys Tyr Ala Thr Ala Asp Ala Thr Lys Phe Ala Ala Pro 225 230 235 240 Tyr Asp Gly Val Tyr Trp Asp Pro Pro Pro Ser Glu Arg Tyr His Phe 245 250 255 Lys Tyr Pro Arg Pro Pro Lys Pro Arg Ala Pro Arg Ile Tyr Glu Ala 260 265 270 His Val Gly Met Ser Ser Ser Glu Pro Arg Val Asn Ser Tyr Arg Glu 275 280 285 Phe Ala Asp Asp Val Leu Pro Arg Ile Lys Ala Asn Asn Tyr Asn Thr 290 295 300 Val Gln Leu Met Ala Ile Met Glu His Ser Tyr Tyr Gly Ser Phe Gly 305 310 315 320 Tyr His Val Thr Asn Phe Phe Ala Val Ser Ser Arg Tyr Gly Asn Pro 325 330 335 Glu Asp Leu Lys Tyr Leu Ile Asp Lys Ala His Ser Leu Gly Leu Gln 340 345 350 Val Leu Val Asp Val Val His Ser His Ala Ser Asn Asn Val Thr Asp 355 360 365 Gly Leu Asn Gly Phe Asp Ile Gly Gln Gly Ser Gln Glu Ser Tyr Phe 370 375 380 His Ala Gly Glu Arg Gly Tyr His Lys Leu Trp Asp Ser Arg Leu Phe 385 390 395 400 Asn Tyr Ala Asn Trp Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Leu Leu Ser Asn Leu Arg 405 410 415 Trp Trp Leu Glu Glu Tyr Asn Phe Asp Gly Phe Arg Phe Asp Gly Ile 420 425 430 Thr Ser Met Leu Tyr Val His His Gly Ile Asn Met Gly Phe Thr Gly 435 440 445 Asn Tyr Asn Glu Tyr Phe Ser Glu Ala Thr Asp Val Asp Ala Val Val 450 455 460 Tyr Leu Met Leu Ala Asn Asn Leu Ile His Lys Ile Phe Pro Asp Ala 465 470 475 480 Thr Val Ile Ala Glu Asp Val Ser Gly Met Pro Gly Leu Gly Arg Pro 485 490 495 Val Ser Glu Gly Gly Ile Gly Phe Val Tyr Arg Leu Ala Met Ala Ile 500 505 510 Pro Asp Lys Trp Ile Asp Tyr Leu Lys Asn Lys Asn Asp Glu Asp Trp 515 520 525 Ser Met Lys Glu Val Thr Ser Ser Leu Thr Asn Arg Arg Tyr Thr Glu 530 535 540 Lys Cys Ile Ala Tyr Ala Glu Thr His Asp Gln Ser Ile Val Gly Asp 545 550 555 560 Lys Thr Ile Ala Phe Leu Leu Met Asp Lys Glu Met Tyr Ser Gly Met 565 570 575 Ser Cys Leu Thr Asp Ala Ser Pro Val Val Asp Arg Gly Ile Ala Leu 580 585 590 His Lys Met Ile His Phe Phe Thr Met Ala Leu Gly Gly Glu Gly Tyr 595 600 605 Leu Asn Phe Met Gly Asn Glu Phe Gly His Pro Glu Trp Ile Asp Phe 610 615 620 Pro Arg Glu Gly Asn Asn Trp Ser Tyr Asp Lys Cys Arg Arg Gln Trp 625 630 635 640 Asn Leu Ala Asp Ser Glu His Leu Arg Tyr Lys Phe Met Asn Ala Phe 645 650 655 Asp Arg Ala Met Asn Ser Leu Asp Glu Lys Phe Ser Phe Leu Ala Ser 660 665 670 Gly Lys Gln Ile Val Ser Ser Met Asp Asp Asp Asn Lys Val Val Val 675 680 685 Phe Glu Arg Gly Asp Leu Val Phe Val Phe Asn Phe His Pro Lys Asn 690 695 700 Thr Tyr Glu Gly Tyr Lys Val Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gly Lys Tyr Arg 705 710 715 720 Val Ala Leu Asp Ser Asp Ala Trp Glu Phe Gly Gly His Gly Arg Thr 725 730 735 Gly His Asp Val Asp His Phe Thr Ser Pro Glu Gly Ile Pro Gly Val 740 745 750 Pro Glu Thr Asn Phe Asn Gly Arg Pro Asn Ser Phe Lys Val Leu Ser 755 760 765 Pro Ala Arg Thr Cys Val Ala Tyr Tyr Arg Val Asp Glu Arg Met Ser 770 775 780 Glu Thr Glu Asp Tyr Gln Thr Asp Ile Cys Ser Glu Leu Leu Pro Thr 785 790 795 800 Ala Asn Ile Glu Glu Ser Asp Glu Lys Leu Lys Asp Ser Leu Ser Thr 805 810 815 Asn Ile Ser Asn Ile Asp Glu Arg Met Ser Glu Thr Glu Val Tyr Gln 820 825 830 Thr Asp Ile Ser Ser Glu Leu Leu Pro Thr Ala Asn Ile Glu Glu Ser 835 840 845 Asp Glu Lys Leu Lys Asp Ser Leu Ser Thr Asn Ile Ser Asn Ile Asp 850 855 860 Gln Thr Val Val Val Ser Val Glu Glu Arg Asp Lys Glu Leu Lys Asp 865 870 875 880 Ser Pro Ser Val Ser Ile Ile Ser Asp Val Val Pro Ala Glu Trp Asp 885 890 895 Asp Ser Asp Ala Asn Val Trp Gly Glu Asp 900 905 <210> SEQ ID NO 42 <211> LENGTH: 44 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 42 Met Val Tyr Thr Leu Ser Gly Val Arg Phe Pro Thr Val Pro Ser Val 1 5 10 15 Tyr Lys Ser Asn Gly Phe Ser Ser Asn Gly Asp Arg Arg Asn Ala Asn 20 25 30 Ile Ser Val Phe Leu Lys Lys His Ser Leu Ser Arg 35 40 <210> SEQ ID NO 43 <211> LENGTH: 21 <212> TYPE: PRT <213> ORGANISM: Solanum tuberosum <400> SEQUENCE: 43 Lys Ile Leu Ala Glu Lys Ser Ser Tyr Asn Ser Glu Ser Arg Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Ala Ala Ser 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for affecting starch branching enzyme activity in a starch producing plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ, or plant, comprising expressing in said plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ, or plant: (a) a first nucleotide sequence which comprises a first intron of a potato gene encoding a class A starch branching enzyme in an antisense orientation, wherein the first nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence naturally associated with the first intron, (b) linked to a second nucleotide sequence which comprises a second intron of a potato gene encoding a class B starch branching enzyme in an antisense or sense orientation.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activity of at least one of the starch branching enzymes is reduced or eliminated.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first nucleotide sequence comprises the complement of SEQ ID NO:38, or a fragment thereof.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first nucleotide further comprises a promoter.
 5. An antisense sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence which is the complement of SEQ ID NO:38, or a nucleotide sequence with at least 95% similarity to SEQ ID NO:38.
 6. A vector comprising a first nucleotide sequence which comprises a first intron of a potato gene encoding a class A starch branching enzyme in an antisense orientation, linked to a second nucleotide sequence which comprises a second intron of a potato gene encoding a class B starch branching enzyme in an antisense or a sense orientation, wherein the first nucleotide sequence does not contain a sequence that is antisense to an exon sequence naturally associated with the first intron.
 7. A plant cell comprising the vector according to claim
 6. 8. A transgenic plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ, or plant, each comprising the vector of claim
 6. 9. A transgenic plant comprising the vector of claim
 6. 10. The method according to claim 4, wherein thpromoter comprises SEQ ID NO:14. 